- This event has passed.
Girls in Ocean Science Field Day
May 17, 2025 @ 6:30 am - 6:30 pm
Girls in Ocean Science Field Day
2025 Girls in Ocean Science Field Day
Saturday, May 17 | 6:30 am – 6:30 pm | Lab Tours at three locations!
About
Connecting Influential Female Scientists with the Next Generation of Ocean Ambassadors
Ocean Institute’s annual Girls in Ocean Science teen conference introduces middle school and high school girls to the diverse career opportunities in ocean science. This event connects professionals in the field with the next generation of ocean stewards. This year, we are kicking off our first annual GIOS Field Day, where we bring the students to the professionals! This event aims to immerse the students in a professional setting, seeing the scientists in action, as well as mitigate the transit of immobile equipment and reduce any limited expression of the profession itself.
During each tour, a representative of the organization will give an overview of the day-to-day functions and walk through some of the equipment or resources that are specific to this space and commonly used there.
Field Day will include visits to the following locations:
- Molina Animal Care Center at the Aquarium of the Pacific
- UCI Samueli School of Engineering Research Labs
- Orange Coast College Dennis Kelly Aquarium
Field Day Tour Locations
Molina Animal Care Center at the Aquarium of the Pacific
The 14,000-square-foot Molina Animal Care Center at the Aquarium of the Pacific provides enhanced healthcare to the aquarium’s animals, as well as opportunities for guests to view veterinary medicine in action. This veterinary hospital includes holding and quarantine tanks for fishes, marine mammals, and birds, an 1,800-square-foot examination area, a reptile room, advanced digital equipment, interactive kiosks, and live video feeds for children. One exhibit found here displays coral and sponges that contain compounds that may hold cures for human diseases! Molina Animal Care Center reaches beyond the confines of a place to care for animals. In the spirit of interactive learning, it allows visitors to watch surgeries, animal examinations, and even interact with the Aquarium’s veterinary staff on occasion!
UCI Samueli School of Engineering Research Labs
Managing water and wastewater systems requires a lot of energy, and producing and distributing energy can impact the environment in many ways. This field focuses on solving these connected challenges by improving water treatment and supply for cities, farms, energy production, and environmental needs. It also explores sustainable ways to manage urban stormwater and enhance chemical and microbiological water treatment processes. Additionally, it covers innovative methods for generating and distributing energy. A key focus is understanding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from water treatment and energy production.
Dennis Kelly Public Aquarium at Orange Coast College
The Dennis Kelly Public Aquarium at Orange Coast College is one of the cornerstones of the Marine Science Department. This versatile resource is a unique training and community education facility where students get hands-on experience working with a remarkably diverse collection of aquatic organisms. The OCC Aquarium is a student-run aquarium that features facilitated peer education and helps provide a depth of experiential learning unrivaled by traditional lectures, textbooks, photos, and videos. Students working towards the Certificate in Aquarium Science play an active role in the design, maintenance, and management of the OCC Aquarium.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have heard of Girls in Ocean Science, but what is Field Day?
Ocean Institute is excited to launch our first ever, Girls in Ocean Science Field Day!
Girls in Ocean Science – This is an annual, one-day, teen conference at Ocean Institute, inviting middle school and high school students to meet, learn from, and conduct research with female professionals in fields relating to ocean science.
Field Day – This is our first event, where we flip the script and take our middle school and high school guests to these professional workspaces for behind-the-scenes tours. This year, we are starting with three different locations for the day, all local to Orange County. We all meet at Ocean Institute, check our guests in, then hop on the bus to head out to our first stop. We spend the day touring these locations together, eat lunch together, then head back to Ocean Institute before parting for the day.
If you have ever attended a Girls in Ocean Science conference or a Stoked on Science conference, you’re going to love Field Day!
What is the start and end time of the conference?
Schedule: 6:30 am – 6:30 pm
This includes check-in and check-out.
Can participants leave the conference early?
We encourage participants to stay for the full duration of the conference. Participants will spend the day together traveling to and from our three Stops. If a participant needs to leave early, please notify us ahead of time so we can accommodate your request.
What do participants need to bring?
Please bring:
- closed-toe, closed-heel shoes
- jacket
- hat
- sunglasses
- snack
- reusable water bottle
- sunscreen
Participants will receive Lunch and a GIOS T-shirt.
Will food be served at the conference?
Yes, lunch and some snacks will be provided. We will not be providing breakfast or dinner. Please bring water, snacks, and let us know of any dietary restrictions to be aware of in your registration form.
Will parents, teachers, chaperones, etc. be allowed on the bus for the program?
Parents, teachers, chaperones, etc. will not be allowed on the bus during this event. This program will only include participants, Ocean Institute staff, and our guest speakers.
What if the participant needs medication during the program?
Participant Medication:
All medications must come in their original container with dosage and schedule indicated. Prescription medications must be accompanied by a physician’s note* verifying the medication, dosage, and schedule. Over the counter medications must have a note from the legal guardian verifying mediation, dosage, and schedule.
Please ensure any medication for motion sickness is administered before arrival arrives OR sent in the original container with a note from the legal guardian verifying the medication, dosage, and schedule.
*By “physician’s note,” we are referring to the medication, dosage, and schedule that is typically printed on a sticker and applied to the container. We do not require you to get a handwritten note from your physician for a medication that was already prescribed to you.
Who can pick up my participant?
Authorized Pick-up List
To ensure the safety of our participants, we follow the following procedures for Check-Out.
Participant must be signed in and out by an adult (18 yrs or older). Participant will ONLY be released to listed authorized persons.
Valid photo identification (such as a Driver’s License, passport, etc) is required to release to any individual, including parents, guardians, relatives, and emergency contacts. If participant has a valid driver’s license, they are able to sign themselves out.
Girls in Ocean Science is proudly sponsored by:
