AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles: Nurturing the Blue Economy Through Student Internships
AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is emerging as a pivotal hub, uniting science, business, and education to safeguard our oceans for generations to come while simultaneously inspiring youth and invigorating the economy. AltaSea is playing a crucial role in solidifying Los Angeles as a center for the Blue Economy, fostering ocean-based solutions to address humanity's most pressing challenges. A key component of this mission is its robust student internship program, designed to provide hands-on experience and cultivate the next generation of blue economy leaders.
Shaping Future Leaders Through Experiential Learning
The Blue Sustainable Economy Alliance (BlueSEA) serves as a business support program for innovators scaling businesses within ocean industries. A core element of BlueSEA is its paid internship program, strategically placing interns and fellows with a diverse array of partners. These internships offer invaluable hands-on experience spanning engineering, skilled trades, and scientific research. Furthermore, they provide crucial experience in organizational support, outreach, and research, all contributing to communication, education, and strategic initiatives.
Internships serve as a catalyst, guiding students toward new educational paths or reinforcing their existing aspirations. AltaSea's partnerships with programs like CA College Corps and Ready to Succeed are instrumental in bringing in fellows from economically disadvantaged communities, enabling them to acquire work experience directly aligned with their educational objectives.
Real-World Impact: Intern Experiences
The impact of AltaSea's internship program is evident in the experiences of its participants. Sophia Fairclough, a Port of Los Angeles local and UC Davis student, completed an internship with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) at the AltaSea campus. Allegra Recknor, another local student pursuing a marine biology degree at Cal Poly Humboldt, interned at AltaSea, focusing on its education programs. Her connection to AltaSea dates back almost a decade when her grandfather shared a newspaper clipping about the project.
Alexander Mendez, an engineering major at CSU Long Beach, joined the program through Ready to Succeed, gaining an internship with Sperra (formerly RCAM Technologies), a startup specializing in 3D printing concrete for marine-based renewable energy infrastructure. He emphasized the importance of seeking help when needed, a valuable lesson learned during his internship. Jacqueline Martinez and Bella Burnett discovered the program through the Center for Climate Change Education at West LA College. Alexis Caamal, an intern with EcoByRy pursuing a degree in Studio Arts and Psychology at Harbor Community College, found that the experience reinforced her passion for therapeutic art.
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A Glimpse into the Blue Economy
Emily Vidovich, a Community Outreach Fellow at AltaSea through the College Corps program, highlighted the program's educational and organizational focus. She gained insights into plastic recycling processes and even learned how to screen print shirts. Vidovich emphasized the transformative impact of the internship in fostering an appreciation for the blue economy.
Developing Essential Skills
Takuji Yamazaki, an aquaculture student at Santa Monica College, transitioned from education to career through an internship at Holdfast Aquaculture, gaining hands-on experience in maintaining tanks, feeding oyster larvae, and counting microalgae. He learned to stay calm under pressure and take ownership in real-life situations, particularly when he had the responsibility of draining twenty million oyster larvae during a water change.
At EcoByRy, Skyler Williams (California State Maritime Academy graduate) and Kalani Ono (CSU Long Beach student) upcycled shredded plastic into surfboard fins and learned the technical process of glassing, skills they had no prior experience in. They emphasized the value of patience and perseverance gained during the internship.
Lorie Van Ligten (CSU Northridge graduate), an intern with Kelp Ark, focused on outreach and social media marketing. Arian, another intern, traveled to Morro Bay to document Holdfast’s oyster farm, capturing the ecological relationship between sea otters, eelgrass, and kelp.
A Foundation for Future Success
The interns consistently express that the skills acquired at AltaSea will be beneficial regardless of their future career paths. Lorie aims to combine her communication skills with her interest in lab work, while Natalie intends to pursue a PhD in Marine Chemistry, focusing on ocean acidification. Arian plans to utilize his storytelling skills to promote sustainability in his home state. Sophie is determined to contribute to ocean conservation and education, guided by the knowledge and experiences gained during her internship. Kalani's internship at EcoByRy helped him realize his preference for hands-on work, solidifying his career goals in marine biology. Takuji is determined to become a leader in sustainable aquaculture, with a long-term goal of opening a community-based fish market.
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AltaSea's Commitment to Education and Community
AltaSea's commitment extends beyond internships to include a range of educational initiatives. The Ocean Pathways High School Mentorship Program, a bicoastal collaboration between AltaSea, Hugo Neu, and NY/NJ Baykeeper, provides high school students with hands-on research experience and mentorship in marine biology, sustainability, and environmental conservation. Educational field trips offer students engaging activities related to current research projects and opportunities to connect with experts in the field.
Student testimonials highlight the inspiring and educational nature of these visits, with students expressing appreciation for the opportunity to learn about marine and environmental careers, data collection, marine science, and innovative projects.
Addressing Global Challenges
AltaSea's focus extends to addressing critical global challenges through its various clusters:
- Sustainable Aquaculture Cluster: Focused on developing responsible and sustainable food sources to address food security in the face of a growing global population.
- Renewable Energy Cluster: Dedicated to diversifying energy supply and reducing dependence on nonrenewable sources through kinetic wave energy and algae fuel technologies.
- Blue Tech Cluster: Advancing solutions to ocean challenges through underwater robotic technology for remote monitoring, sensing, and exploration.
Grants and Partnerships
AltaSea's impactful work is supported by various grants and partnerships:
- Maritime Labor Training Pipeline for Youth Economic Advancement: A partnership between AltaSea, the Maritime Environmental Training Trust, El Camino College, and the Los Angeles Maritime Institute to train youth for maritime jobs.
- Where STEM Meets the Ocean: Inspiring the next generation to explore the ocean and develop solutions for food, energy, and climate security.
- Expand Career Pathways in the Blue Economy: Providing local youth from marginalized communities access to careers in the Blue Economy through internships, certificate programs, research opportunities, and apprenticeships.
- Ocean Career Pathways: Developing internships, certificate programs, and apprenticeships for BIPOC youth from disadvantaged communities.
- Where STEAM Meets the Ocean: Offering waterfront STEAM education programs to students in the foster care system.
- Be an Aquaculture Scientist: Facilitating job creation and opportunities for minority students in ocean-related STEM fields.
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