The mission of the Oceans Department is to discover, educate, and innovate to support a known, sustainable, and equitable ocean. Faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral scholars advance ocean research, education, and impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, technology development, user-inspired research, and immersive education and training. The Oceans Department brings together ocean sciences – including biological, physical, and social sciences – and technology to advance exploration and knowledge of our blue planet and pursue solutions that tackle the most pressing challenges in climate and sustainability.
Degree programs
Undergraduate opportunities
Stanford undergraduate students interested in ocean research can pursue oceans-related courses and majors via the Department of Biology, Earth Systems or Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Stanford Undergraduate Admissions
Biology
Earth Systems
Environmental Systems Engineering
Oceans research at Stanford
Our faculty and students engage with partners on ocean research across the university.
Hopkins Marine Station
Many of our faculty work at Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove where students and researchers come together to ask big questions, explore new ideas, and discover how and why things work.
Marine Operations
Learn about required training and procedures for boating, diving, and working in the tidal zone at Hopkins Marine Station and the surrounding marine protected area.
Center for Ocean Solutions
We partner with the Center for Ocean Solutions at the Woods Institute for the Environment to translate research insights into solutions at scale with collaborators across the globe.
The Bob and Norma Street Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory (EFML)
Research in EFML is home to state-of-the-art field and laboratory equipment to study pressing problems in environmental and geophysical fluid dynamics, hydrology, and water resources.
Oceans news
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Stanford researchers are studying how changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and ecological shifts affect the global food system, while developing ways to improve food security for all.
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A new framework informed by Stanford-led research and stakeholder convenings balances conservation with cultural heritage and sustainable resettlement of communities removed from an island chain decades ago.
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Eleven scholars from across Stanford University will travel to Belém, Brazil in November 2025 for the United Nations climate summit known as COP30. Discover events, attendees, and expert insights.
