About

The Ocean Sciences Department is an inclusive, supportive, and innovative community of people involved in oceanography and other marine sciences.

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We offer undergraduate and graduate courses in these disciplines. Students have access to a wide variety of research facilities and equipment through faculty sponsors. In addition to research and instructional activities along the California coast, interests of the core faculty and their students include biological, chemical, and physical oceanography; sediment, marine, organic, and trace metal biogeochemistry; marine plankton, phytoplankton ecology, paleoceanography, aquatic microbial ecology, ecological modeling, and remote sensing (satellite oceanography); numeric modeling of coastal and basin-scale dynamics; midwater ecology and climatology, among others.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The Science Division is committed to supporting a diverse community and an inclusive environment that promotes innovation and scientific excellence. Our goal is to foster equitable treatment, access, and opportunities to learn and thrive. To this end, we develop strategies to combat bias and discrimination and offer programs that embrace and enhance equity, inclusion and diversity.

Mission Statement
Diversity of personal experiences, culture, and perspectives drives the innovation and creativity needed to meet the most pressing challenges at the frontier of scientific research and education. To this end, the Science Division of UCSC promotes social justice and equity across intersections of race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, faith, abilities/disabilities, age, socioeconomic background, ancestry, national origin, and all other identities. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and mutual respect and to empowering members of our community with the ability to contribute to meeting our shared goals.

Explore Our Department

Undergrad
Programs

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Environmental Sciences B.S.

Graduate
Programs

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We are here to help

Christopher Edwards, Department Chair, cedwards@ucsc.edu

Amy Kornberg, Department Manager, amylkorn@ucsc.edu

Sandy De Lenferna, Graduate Advisor, sdelenfe@ucsc.edu

Phone: 831-459-2563
osadmin@ucsc.edu
Earth & Marine Sciences Bldg A312

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It takes only one inspired student or one scientific discovery to change the world—to save a species from extinction, discover a habitable planet, cure diseases, revolutionize energy… the list is endless. The UC Santa Cruz Division of Physical & Biological Sciences has been doing just that since 1965, and it’s all been made possible by generous gifts from people like you. Find the opportunity that inspires you below and make your own impact on science today.

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