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Charles Larrouilh always knew he wanted to study the ocean and marine environment. After just one month at Texas A&M University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Oceanography programme, he knew he made the right choice.
“The natural sciences, with their hands-on, real-world applications, were my true calling,” says Larrouilh. In the programme, he found a dynamic learning environment that allowed him to transfer knowledge seamlessly from the classroom to the field, tangible opportunities to conduct meaningful scientific research, and many ways to explore solutions to environmental challenges.
Charles Larrouihl (left) credits the Texas A&M’s Department of Oceanography professors for their infectious enthusiasm and steadfast dedication to their students’ success. Source: Richard Baron
Between working for various labs within the entire Department of Oceanography, building chairs, and experiencing life – and night shifts – at sea, the programme offered Larrouihl a crucial context and framework around his passions. “I came into the programme lost, with a true love for the ocean and the marine environment but no vision of how that would manifest into a job that would sustain and provide for my life,” he says. “I left with real-world skills and an actionable plan on how to be successful in an area that is so underrepresented and overlooked.”
Since graduating, Larrouihl’s been making waves. He’s worked offshore for the department’s Fitzsimmons lab, collecting water samples for the world’s first deep-sea mining trials. He’s also worked with the subsea surveyor and the world’s leading geo-data specialist, Fugro, to provide subsea asset positioning for deepwater construction endeavours. His latest career shift has brought him to consulting company Acorn International, where he helps companies worldwide navigate environmental regulations and align their operations with sustainability frameworks.
Larrouihl is just one of the many examples of the programme’s graduates finding success.
One of Jose Martinez’s most memorable moments during the programme was being on the department’s annual Schade Cruise, out in the middle of the Gulf, surrounded only by dark blue water. Source: Alex Ingle
Jose Martinez’s success post-graduation came through his further pursuit of oceanography studies through a master’s at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, a decision inspired by his time at Texas A&M.
“One thing that stuck with me was that science communication across the oceanographic community, and likely the science community as a whole, can be lacking, and my mentor, Dr. Kathryn Shamberger, wanted to improve that,” says Martinez. “I have somewhat adopted that goal as I have tried to improve my communication skills and help those around me to better facilitate the connection between scientists and non-scientists, which is essential for better policy and a better-informed populace.”
It wasn’t until he was already in the midst of his master’s programme that Martinez saw the true extent of all he gained from his BS in Oceanography degree. “The sheer amount of oceanographic knowledge that I learned from my bachelor’s meant that much of what I learned directly translated to what I was being tested and working on in my master’s thesis programme,” he says.
Now, having defended his thesis on “Hypoxia driven by Caribbean Sargassum Accumulation Events” and awaiting the paper’s review, Martinez shows no signs of slowing down. He was recently accepted into the prestigious Knauss Fellowship – an ocean, coastal and great lakes resource management experience for graduate students – as a legislative finalist.
“I’m proud to represent Puerto Rico Sea Grant and the Texas A&M Department of Oceanography as a Knauss finalist,” he says. “The department provided me with an incredible foundation of skills and knowledge, which has been instrumental in achieving this opportunity.”
Dylan Halbeisen believes he made the most of his time at Texas A&M by getting to know his professors and embracing the opportunities that came his way. Source: Margot Debyser
Fellow graduate Dylan Halbeisen took the academic route, too, pursuing his PhD at the University of South Florida. Like Martinez, Halbeisen would not have come this far in his career had it not been for his time as an undergraduate at Texas A&M.
“In the last week of my Introduction to Oceanography Lab, a kind teaching assistant, Dr. Janelle Steffen, noticed my enthusiasm and introduced me to her advisor, Dr. Jessica Fitzsimmons, who granted me a high-impact undergraduate project,” he says.
Through the project, Halbeisen developed his research interest and had the opportunity to give a poster presentation at an international Ocean Sciences Meeting. There, he met several members of the Chemical Oceanography community, two of whom – Dr. Ben Twining and Dr. Tim Conway – would later become his Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) advisor and PhD advisor, respectively.
That wasn’t the only opportunity Halbeisen gained from the programme. In just four semesters, he sailed three times – twice in Galveston Bay and once in the Gulf of Mexico – spending seven days at sea and gaining first-hand oceangoing science skills. Beyond that, he sharpened the skills expected of graduate students and professional scientists, such as public speaking, technical writing, coding, sailing, and more, as an undergraduate.
“The skills I gained with each subsequent semester ultimately culminated with a senior capstone project, which gave me the independent ability to conduct, synthesise, and present oceanographic research,” he says. “The senior capstone experience gave me the agency and confidence to conduct research on my own, which allowed me to start my PhD programme successfully in stride.”
Halbeisen has only made more progress since. He studied marine stable isotope geochemistry in Florida and earned himself the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. He spent 57 days at sea sailing the South Pacific and Southern Oceans, collecting seawater samples from Tahiti to the Antarctic, then through the Drake Passage and the Strait of Magellan into southern Chile.
He credits his success to his education at Texas A&M. “The BS in Oceanography provides more than a comprehensive, interdisciplinary marine science education; it provides the resources for a truly meaningful and engaging oceanographic education,” says Halbeisen.
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