×

Marine Institute educator selected for Pacific ocean exploration mission

Sabrina Medina, education program coordinator for the Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center, has been selected as a 2026 Science Communication Fellow with the Ocean Exploration Trust. Courtesy photo

A Maui educator has been selected for a deep-sea exploration expedition in the Pacific Ocean as part of a program designed to connect students and communities with ocean science. Sabrina Medina, education program coordinator for the Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center, was chosen by the Ocean Exploration Trust as a 2026 Science Communication Fellow. Medina will join a team aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus this fall during a 30-day expedition near Wake Island, one of the most remote land masses in the Pacific. According to the Ocean Exploration Trust, Medina was selected from a worldwide pool of applicants and is one of 14 fellows from schools, science centers and nonprofit organizations across the Pacific and North America. This 30-day expedition will utilize the ROV, mapping and telepresence systems of E/V Nautilus to collect information across the largely unexplored areas of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. Researchers will investigate deep-sea habitats, seamounts and potential maritime heritage sites associated with the Battle of Wake Island. While at sea, Medina will participate in live broadcasts and question-and-answer sessions through NautilusLive.org, allowing students and community members on Maui and around the world to follow the mission and interact with explorers in real time. "It is such a privilege to have been selected as a Science Communication Fellow," Medina said in a statement. "I am most excited to show students that there is no single way to belong to ocean science." The Science Communication Fellowship places educators aboard the Nautilus to share discoveries and daily life on the research vessel while helping inspire interest in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The Marine Institute at Maui Ocean Center is a nonprofit organization focused on marine conservation, sea turtle rehabilitation, coral restoration and ocean education programs throughout Hawaii.

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today