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Geneseo students integral to deep-sea science

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  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, October 22nd 2025 at 7:40 GMT by The Daily News Online
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Geneseo Students Dive into Deep‑Sea Science, Driving Discovery Beneath the Waves

For the past year, a handful of undergraduate students from Geneseo’s College of Arts & Sciences have been charting uncharted oceanic territory, combining hands‑on fieldwork with cutting‑edge technology to unlock the mysteries of the deep sea. The initiative, highlighted in the college’s recent campus news release, brings together biology majors, physics majors, and engineering students in a multidisciplinary partnership with the University’s Marine Research Center (UMRC) and the National Oceanographic Institute (NOI).

A Mission‑Driven Program

The program, dubbed “Deep‑Sea Frontier,” was launched in spring 2023 as a response to growing interest in oceanic ecosystems that are increasingly threatened by climate change, pollution, and industrial exploitation. Geneseo’s faculty director, Dr. Maria Ruiz—an expert in marine microbiology—described the initiative as “a bridge between classroom learning and real‑world research.” Students are recruited through an interdisciplinary application process, with emphasis on research potential, teamwork, and a passion for marine science.

“We wanted to give students a chance to contribute to something that has global significance,” Ruiz explained. “The ocean covers 70 % of the planet, yet less than 5 % of it has been mapped. There’s so much we can learn—and we need fresh eyes.”

Fieldwork on the High Seas

Central to the program is a series of field expeditions aboard the research vessel Oceanic Explorer, a 130‑meter, deep‑sea research ship operated by the NOI. The ship’s advanced suite of instruments—including remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater gliders, and high‑resolution sonar—provides students with hands‑on experience in collecting data from depths that were once unimaginable.

During the first expedition in July, Geneseo students helped deploy an ROV to a hydrothermal vent field off the coast of Costa Rica. The ROV, equipped with high‑definition cameras and sampling tools, captured stunning footage of bioluminescent organisms and collected sediment cores for microbiological analysis. One student, biology major Maya Patel, described the experience: “Seeing the vent chimney and the glowing creatures in real time—it was like stepping into a sci‑fi movie, but it’s happening right now.”

Beyond hydrothermal vents, the program also targets deep‑sea cold seeps and abyssal plains. Students conduct sediment core analyses, study microbial communities, and assess the impact of deep‑sea mining on fragile ecosystems. Their findings are shared in peer‑reviewed journals and at national conferences, giving Geneseo students early exposure to scientific publishing.

Engineering the Future

Engineering students play a critical role in designing and maintaining the technical equipment used on these expeditions. Working under the guidance of UMRC’s mechanical engineering faculty, students prototype modular ROV arms and develop custom software to streamline data acquisition. The program has already led to a patent‑pending design for a low‑cost, high‑durability ROV that could be deployed in developing nations to study marine biodiversity.

“We’re essentially building the tools that will shape the next generation of ocean science,” said electrical engineering major Aaron Li. “It’s rewarding to see our designs working in the real world.”

Academic Impact and Career Pathways

The Deep‑Sea Frontier program has had a measurable impact on student academic trajectories. According to the college’s recent survey, 92 % of participating students reported that the program solidified their interest in marine biology, oceanography, or environmental engineering. Several participants have secured research assistant positions at NOAA and the Smithsonian Institution, and one has already been accepted into a Ph.D. program in marine microbiology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Faculty members have highlighted the program’s role in fostering critical thinking, problem‑solving, and collaborative skills. Dr. Ruiz noted, “Students learn how to design experiments, analyze data, and communicate findings—all within a highly interdisciplinary framework.”

Institutional Support and Future Plans

Geneseo’s Office of Research and Innovation has pledged continued support for the Deep‑Sea Frontier, allocating additional funding for equipment upgrades and scholarships. The college plans to expand the program to include an internship component with NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, allowing students to apply their skills in a federal agency setting.

Moreover, the program is exploring partnerships with international universities to conduct joint expeditions in the Arctic and Southern Ocean. These efforts aim to broaden students’ perspectives on global ocean health and to foster a global network of early‑career ocean scientists.

A Call to the Next Generation

In its final editorial, the article urges Geneseo students who are passionate about the planet to consider a career in ocean science. “The deep sea is the planet’s last frontier,” the piece concludes. “By stepping into its depths, we’re not just advancing science—we’re safeguarding the future of all life on Earth.”

Through the Deep‑Sea Frontier, Geneseo is proving that even a small liberal‑arts college can make a big splash in the world of marine science, inspiring the next wave of scientists to dive deep into discovery.