Stanford University researchers are developing an interdisciplinary curriculum to connect students with the complexities of ocean ecosystems and human interactions. English Professor Margaret Cohen and Oceans Professor Fiorenza Micheli are leading this initiative, focusing on the intricate relationship between humans and oceans through classes and research.
“In our era of anthropogenic climate change, we realize that people and the oceans are intertwined,” said Cohen. She emphasized the importance of understanding both the history of oceans and human impact on them.
The project team includes Steve Palumbi, Meghan Shea, and Alexander Sherman. They received funding from Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment, Oceans Department, and Public Humanities in H&S. This enabled them to pilot a course titled “Integrative Ocean Study” during the winter quarter of 2025.
“We are at a time when we need to be creative and inclusive in how we address challenges our planet and people are facing,” Micheli stated, highlighting Stanford’s support for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Cohen plans to expand her network at the Stanford Humanities Center, while Micheli has begun discussions within her department regarding potential curriculum formats. The goal is to provide students with comprehensive “ocean literacy,” incorporating both scientific knowledge and humanities perspectives.
Micheli noted that while much attention has been given to land-based sustainability sciences, human activities have rapidly changed ocean environments. She emphasized that current ocean management approaches often overlook human interactions with oceans.
Potential future courses could explore economic, geopolitical uses of oceans or focus on historical ocean voyagers. The team aims to incorporate various disciplines such as literature, geography, philosophy alongside science and technology.
“We have a robust group of people who are interested in the oceans at Stanford,” Cohen remarked. She cited resources like the Center for Ocean Solutions and Hopkins Marine Station as integral parts of this initiative.
This story was initially published by Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences.
