Put on your digital SCUBA gear and get ready to dive into the watery world of marine biology! In this 6-week course, students will explore the diverse ecosystems of the ocean, from coral reefs to the deep sea, and learn about the incredible organisms that call these environments home. Through a variety of media, students will understand both how organisms survive and thrive in different marine habitats and how human activities impact Earth’s oceans, including through pollution, overfishing, and climate change. This course will take a hopeful and solution-oriented approach towards our own potential roles in marine biology: we’ll explore the importance of conservation efforts and identify ways that students can positively, tangibly contribute to ocean research or to improving marine environments. Through interactive lessons, engaging activities, and exciting projects, this course will inspire a deeper understanding of marine environments and our role in protecting them.
Open to Middle and High School Students
Introduction to Marine Biology
Length: 6 weeks
Dates and times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM (EST)
First day of class: June 10, 2025
Last day of class: July 17, 2025
Ash DiCristofalo received her Bachelor's from Haverford College, where she majored in Biology (and especially loved studying marine biology and researching chemically-mediated interactions between phytoplankton and ocean bacteria), before receiving her Master's in Bioengineering and Master's Certificate in Engineering Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania. She recently wrapped up a position working as the Director of Graduate Engineering Programs at Haverford College, where she has also served for the past couple of years as an alumni admissions interviewer. Ash has successfully worked with My Ivy Education students for years, guiding them on application essays that get them accepted to the top colleges and private high schools in the country, all while incorporating her signature creative and analytical approach. In her free time, Ash contributes as a volunteer to scientific research projects from around the world.