The University of Alabama offers over 200 majors for undergraduate degrees, but one of the rarest is marine science. Since Tuscaloosa is not a coastal city, it can make some of the coursework unconventional. The Marine Science Club, however, makes it streamlined.
While the Marine Science Club is open to all majors, it provides valuable information, opportunities and connections for those studying marine science.
“It kind of helped me make friends within the major because there’s not really that many of us,” said Delilah Wilson, a junior majoring in marine science and a member of the club. “I feel like it’s kind of hard to find somebody that’s also [in] marine science.”
The club meets weekly for a variety of activities. This includes scavenger hunts, informational movies, general presentations and guest speakers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who provide valuable information about the world of marine science after college.
“They also give us advice if we’re freshmen, juniors, seniors, just easing our concerns that most of us have after undergrad about finding out where we fit in, where are we and what job are we going to have,” said Savannah Coley, a senior majoring in applied liberal arts and sciences and president of the Marine Science Club.
Students majoring in marine science are required to take classes away from the University at a marine lab, typically the Dauphin Island Sea Lab off the coast of southern Alabama. The Marine Science Club keeps students informed and helps with the logistics.
“We also have Dr. Olson. She is the liaison for DISL for UA, and we have her come in and talk to the members about DISL, and they can ask her any questions that they may have about registration,” Coley said.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab is invaluable for marine science students, as the field training allows for more expansive learning.
“You got to see more of the biological side, more of the chemical side and the geological side, in a light-hearted way, where you’re still just learning,” said Tiffany Hamilton, a senior majoring in marine science and psychology and treasurer of the Marine Science Club.
Many members are involved just for the weekly activities, regardless of their major.
“We do have a lot of members that also just are really fascinated. They’re interested in marine science,” Hamilton said. “They just love the ocean. They love certain animals. They want to learn more about conservation, or they want to come to these talks and hear about the specific topics that these speakers are coming in with.”
The Marine Science Club has made several trips of their own over the years, most frequently to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. These efforts require significant fundraising. For this, they sell merchandise including clothing and novelty items like glass straws. One of their bigger goals is to make a club-sponsored trip to Dauphin Island Sea Lab, opening it up to members outside the major.
Still, the club does work in Tuscaloosa through volunteering at events. Most recently, they helped with a river cleanup project alongside Black Warrior Riverkeeper.
Across the activities and networking opportunities, the Marine Science Club has fostered a tight-knit community. Members often let each other know about promising research opportunities and help keep each other on track for whatever they choose to study.
“If you have an interest in anything ocean-related, you can join,” Wilson said. “It’s for everybody.”
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