Science Communication Fellowship
The Science Communication Fellowship immerses formal and informal educators in the Nautilus Corps of Exploration as communicators for exploration and empowers them to bring the excitement of ocean exploration - specifically in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) - to students and public audiences around the world. Fellows share accounts of ocean research, expedition operations, STEAM careers, and daily life with audiences of all ages through live audio commentary on the Nautilus Live website and through outreach to classrooms and communities via ship-to-shore live interactions.
We use the term educator with a broad definition. Applicants can include formal or informal educators at all levels including - public or private school K-12 teachers, community or youth-service non-profit educators, museum or aquarium interpreters, traditional storytellers, writers, artists, etc. Educators of any discipline may apply. Consider how you would use participation in this program to share biocultural knowledge, career role modeling, and ocean exploration experiences with students and/or the broader community.
The Science Communication Fellowship is a professional development program that includes:
- experience sailing 3-5 weeks as part of the exploration team onboard a deep sea oceanographic expedition;
- participation in a Nautilus science communication expedition forum in the spring;
- paid travel to/from the expedition and the training workshop + substitute or stipend support at sea + a stipend for community or classroom STEAM outreach;
- a year-long commitment to collaborate with the OET team, STEAM education professionals, research scientists, and educator Fellows within the cohort;
- development of a STEAM-lesson or outreach material deliverable for your education audience; and
- the agreement to serve as a role model for learners based on your Nautilus experience and engage students, organizations, and communities in the excitement of ocean exploration and STEAM.
"It has truly been life-changing...Thanks for deepening my view of the world and inspiring me to approach complicated topics in order to become a better communicator."
Congratulations to the 2025 cohort of Fellows!
OET is committed to including and amplifying role models from all backgrounds. We encourage a broad pool of applicants, particularly educators from under-resourced schools and those who engage learners and communities near our expedition locations.
The Ocean Exploration Trust’s Science Communication Fellowship aims to provide educators with training and immersive at-sea experiences in science communication and ocean exploration. Sailing with Ocean Exploration Trust offers participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics apply to real-world situations and to engage their classrooms, organizations, and local communities in ocean exploration.
Applications for the Science Communication Fellowship open in early fall for placements on expeditions the following year. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive the most up to date postings on at-sea opportunities.
"Students in my community will be inspired to pursue careers in STEM...At the most basic and fundamental level, they will know why collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity is the key to building a team, and accomplishing a goal."
