On March 16, students from five Honors Colleges in the State University System (SUS) boarded a research vessel on the USF St. Petersburg campus for an overnight trip into the Gulf of Mexico. While on board, they participated in lab-based research, observed marine life, including dolphins, and explored society's relationship with the ocean through the lens of history, politics, journalism and the arts.

The adventure was part of the Honoring the Oceans class, a new collaboration between the Florida Institute of Oceanography and SUS Honors Colleges, including the Judy Genshaft Honors College at USF. Students in the class took part in a six-week online pre-course taught by faculty from USF, University of North Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida and Florida International University to prepare them for the trip and the projects they would develop afterward. The class will also participate in a similar journey on a research vessel out of the Florida Keys later in the month.

Students will use both experiences to generate projects in art, film and creative and journalistic writing.

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