Title: Susan Faraday’s Maritime Education: Insights from a Semester at Sea. 

Professor of marine affairs Susan Faraday is a beloved faculty member of the UNE community. Faraday’s passion and dedication about conservation of the marine environment and wildlife have inspired so many. When she teaches her classes you can tell that she truly cares about the subject and her students. 

Throughout her years of teaching Faraday has frequently advocated the opportunities that a semester at sea would bring to her students. When asked to talk more about the experience she lit up and said that “My semester at sea quite literally changed my life, in so many ways.” 

Faraday got involved with Sea semester when she was looking for internships her junior year and ended up getting into the program the summer after her senior year. Since then she has also worked with the organization as a crew member and an advisor. 

The semester at sea program is designed to take students from colleges all over the country and some international as well. Students spend six weeks ashore in a very intensive academic experience. 

There are different kinds of programs and academic curriculums that are offered but Faraday explained that  “The basic intent is that you spend time in the classroom ashore learning about the ocean, learning about sailing, and learning about the specific topic of your choice whether that be climate change in the oceans, marine conservation of biodiversity, or colonization in the Caribbean.” 

This unique academic program offers a blend of traditional classroom learning and experiential education, allowing students to engage with course material while also gaining firsthand experience. 

During a semester at sea, students have the opportunity to study and live onboard a ship while traveling to various destinations around the world, often across multiple continents and oceans.This experience exposes students to diverse cultures, languages, and customs. They can explore iconic landmarks, historical sites, and natural wonders in each destination, broadening their understanding of the world. In Faraday’s words ““You become very close to nature, and you become very close with your shipmates and the crew” 

When it comes to being offshore on the ship Faraday said that students were expected to “work closely with their peers to learn about science, learn about maritime history, navigate the ship, cook, run the engine room, conduct 24 hour bow watches and so many other tasks to help keep the ship running safely and smoothly while simultaneously designing and conducting their own research projects ”. 

While this may sound like a lot of work to some, professor Faraday insists that it is time and money well spent. Faraday said that  “There’s nothing like seeing the world from a boat it’s just a completely different experience than hopping on a plane or hopping in a car” 

When asked about some of the most memorable things that she saw during her time as a student of the sea semester program she said that it was hard to pick but there were two memories that were particularly impactful for her. One being the first time she saw whales in the gulf of Maine she said that “Someone had to hold me back from going over the rail and my nickname became right there because I kept saying over and over again their right there!”. 

The second experience that she shared was when she was on bow watch in the middle of the night in the Caribbean and saw dolphins riding in the wake of the bow in the bioluminescent water in the dark. She said “Dolphins in the glow in the dark water in the middle of the night. It doesn’t get much better than that.”  She added that “Anytime you see an animal like that out in the wild it’s just unbelievable”   

The semester at sea experience has shaped Faraday’s life and career path in so many ways and her advice to college students is “ it will never be easier of cheaper for you to travel and do crazy stuff than at this point in your life either as a college student or right afterwards because your willing to not have a shower for a couple of days your willing to not have much money in your pocket, your willing and energetic to be open to new experiences and new people and it’s just really worth it”  

Ultimately participating in a Semester at Sea program can be a transformative experience for students, fostering personal growth, self-discovery, and resilience. Living and learning in a diverse and dynamic environment challenges students to step outside their comfort zones, confront preconceptions, and adapt to new situations,  fostering greater self-awareness and confidence.

Faraday continues to advocate for the program and the opportunities that it brings to her students. Faraday was so inspired by the experience that she decided to work on boats for four years after her semester at sea. She says that “It was definitely one of the most impactful experiences of my life.” and “That was my expanding into the world and I don’t regret a minute of it”