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Sometimes, an experience can shift your entire vision — how you see yourself, what you imagine for your future, where you belong.

After rising senior Sofia Corsico-Sánchez applied to OCEAN CORE Academy in College Station, Texas, she promptly forgot about it. Geology, after all, is her minor; she’s majoring in biology and environmental science, and is more interested in animal life than deep-sea sediment.

Offered by the International Ocean Discovery Program’s (IODP) U.S. Science Support office, the program’s full name is Ocean Core Exploration As New Investigators Community Outreach and Research Experiences. It’s a land-based successor to IODP’s prior JR Academy summer program.

Corsico-Sánchez’s acceptance email came as a shock. As the designated week in June approached, she felt anxious — and, admittedly, like an impostor. She soon discovered that the scientific world has many diverse paths, including her own.

“I would say I’m a lowly bio major in the world of geology, but they really took me in,” she said. “And it feels like now that the experience really brought all of these sectors together, even though it was a geology-centric program. People were doing all these different things, and it reminded me that science isn’t black and white.”

The first day introduced attendees to the Gulf Coast Repository, which contains ocean sediment cores collected from the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Southern Ocean. In essence, the repository functions as a massive archive of geologic history; data from these cores continues to support scores of research projects.

Participants learned about the coring and sampling process, formulated their own research questions on day two, and sought to answer them during the time that remained.

“We were only there for a week, but in that short amount of time, we were able to collect data, analyze and present our research to staff members and other people in the program,” Corsico-Sánchez said. “It was a scientific intensive.”

The questions that students came up with were diverse, incorporating their interests. Corsico-Sánchez’s group decided on a topic that incorporates biology, looking at microfossils contained in the cores and seeing how they correlate with magnetism. Other teams investigated how sediment cores age, the deposit of turbidity currents and more.

One of the most valuable parts of the experience was the chance to connect and “geek out” with others who have similar interests, Corsico-Sánchez said. Lab work can be isolating and difficult to chat about with the layperson who doesn’t share a passion for the topic, she reflected.

“It was like summer camp and grad school at the same time,” she said. “It was life-changing, which is shocking to say because it was just a week of my life.”

Charting a course

In kindergarten, Corsico-Sánchez imagined becoming an astronaut, but abandoned that dream as soon as she learned about black holes, she quipped. Her love for science and particularly for animals, however, has remained consistent.

While she was originally interested in mammals, the courses she took at ������ý in marine biology and ecology shifted her interests to the sea.

“I realized there’s a lot going on in our oceans that we don’t know about. It’s such an important part of our world, especially in terms of our environment,” she said.

Corsico-Sánchez also participated in the University’s Summer Scholars and Artists Program in Summer 2024. Her experiences at ������ý and at OCEAN CORE taught her something important: science isn’t some exclusive club but filled with opportunities for connection and mentorship.

When Corsico-Sánchez was confused about how to combine her interests in geology and biology, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences Adriane Lam introduced her to the world of paleobiology. She joined Lam’s lab during her sophomore year, and spent the last two summers conducting research there, including an exciting new project on echinoderms.

“She really helped me curate my interests,” Corsico-Sánchez said of Lam, who also introduced her to OCEAN CORE. “I’ve really been able to branch out in terms of research on campus.”

In Lam’s lab, Corsico-Sánchez is taking a deep dive into Earth’s ancient climate and how it has shaped the evolution of marine life. The findings are surprisingly applicable today, in light of climate change and the ongoing biodiversity crisis, she reflected. For her future career, she’s interested in fossil corals and using research to help ensure the survival of coral species today.

“I’m in a really great place to really think about and play around with those ideas,” she said.

At the College Station academy, Corsico-Sánchez realized that the scientists there weren’t just offering lessons in how to conduct research or create a poster to showcase findings. They were training their future coworkers, ensuring that the repository’s scientific endeavors continue into the future.

“I would recommend this program to everyone,” Corsico-Sánchez said. “It was an introduction to that world and covered all aspects of scientific education and research. I wish everyone could experience it.”