Meet the UCLA Marine Operations Team
We’re UCLA Marine Operations, or MOPs, part of the Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, and we’re all about getting students out of the classroom and onto the ocean! We offer a unique, undergraduate-driven educational research experience that bridges classroom learning with real-world applications to broaden participation in marine science.
What We Do
Every year, we take 200-300 UCLA undergraduates out on The Zodiac, our research vessel, where they get their hands wet (literally!), measuring and observing ocean phenomena with their classmates and professors.
These sea cruises are incorporated into the course curriculum, so students get to experience the ocean firsthand instead of just reading about it in textbooks. Students develop crucial skills by deploying scientific instruments, making direct observations of ocean phenomena, and using the data they collected to answer scientific questions.
These sea trips aren’t just for marine science majors – we work with students from all over campus: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences (AOS), Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences (EPSS), Geography, Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB).
Why It Matters
On The Zodiac, students don’t just learn – they do! They work in tight-knit groups of 4-8, creating genuine connections with their classmates and professors while developing practical skills that classroom learning just can’t provide.
The Zodiac is equipped with technology typically found only on much larger research vessels. Students can watch real-time measurements of ocean temperature, salinity, pH, and chlorophyll, and view microscopic organisms under a microscope- something that is rarely so readily available for undergraduate students to experience.
Additionally, the program offers extended engagement opportunities through independent research projects, experience crewing a research vessel, and operating and maintaining scientific instruments. Moreover, MOPs facilitates diverse research initiatives, allowing undergraduates to engage with cutting-edge research across various subfields of oceanography.
This unique initiative not only enhances the quality of undergraduate instruction but also contributes to the development of the next generation of marine scientists, setting a new standard for undergraduate engagement in oceanographic research.
We Need Your Help!
Nothing beats hands-on experience for truly understanding science. Your support empowers the UCLA Marine Operations Program to continue helping UCLA students build the skills and community they need to tackle the next steps in their education and careers. Furthermore, donations help us reach more underserved students throughout Los Angeles County through additional outreach programs. We’re aiming to raise $2,000 to fund a sea excursion for UCLA students and our neighbors throughout Los Angeles County.
Any amount you can give helps put more students on the water and potentially changes the course of their lives! Join our crew today with a donation of any size – let’s make some waves together!