By Ian Wesselhoff 

S even Georgia College students spent nearly three weeks of their summer on the island of Okinawa, Japan, fully immersing themselves in the coral reef ecosystem. 

They attended lectures in the evening, but during the day, the students occupied most of their time by snorkeling on the reefs. 

“So they’re actually seeing what I’m talking about in person, which has a much larger impact than just lectures or videos,” said Dr. Kristine White, associate professor of biology and faculty coordinator of the trip. “I explain the geology of the reefs, and then we get to go look at the different types of reefs and they can actually see the structures and how they’re formed.” 

Students also learned about the complex ecosystems that support the reef, interacted with the many marine species that live there and did their fair share of sightseeing. 

“My favorite part of the trip was the opportunity to study and explore some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world,” said Chandler Cawley, senior biology and chemistry double major. 

This is the second study abroad trip to Okinawa that White has run, with the first edition held in 2024. White lived in Okinawa for four years as a postdoctoral fellow and then teacher, and she says it was a “no-brainer” to host her study abroad program there.  

“I think a course like this is so different from anything that they’ve done. Even just a field trip is different than this immersive thing where you’re outside doing this every day,” White said. “I think the growth that they’ll get from that type of experience – I mean, it’s life-changing.” 

All seven students fit into one rental van with White, so they often had mini-lecture sessions driving between locations after their daily dives. 

The students each kept journals where they identified two fish, two corals and two algae that they saw during their snorkeling sessions every day. At the end of the trip, they also completed a project where they surveyed two different sites to compare the fish, coral and algae populations. Divided into teams, each dedicated to one of those three groups, students wrote reports and gave presentations based on their surveys.  

“I am incredibly grateful to Georgia College & State University for providing me with this opportunity and for supporting a program that allowed me to learn, grow and experience a part of the world I otherwise may never have had the chance to explore,” Cawley said. 

Like the other students, Cawley took much away from the cultural experience. 

“What surprised me most was how kind and respectful the Japanese people were,” Cawley said. “Their positive attitudes and strong work ethic made a lasting impression on me.” 

Logan Heard, senior environmental science major, says that he was initially shocked at the differences between Japan and the U.S. 

“I got to be introduced to a completely new culture and learn so much about the ocean,” Heard said. “This trip opened my eyes to many more possibilities in the world and really showed me what is out there … I will cherish this experience forever.”

Header Images: Bobcats love to snorkel, even Lil' Thunder! The students on Dr. Kristine White's Okinawa study abroad program trip snorkeled daily and catalogued species of fish, coral and algae. On land, the group visited the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and the historic Nakamura House. (Photos: Kristine White)