May 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Richard LeRoy
International Education and Programs
805-756-7321 rleroy@calpoly.edu
Cal Poly Students Study Pacific Aboard the Golden Bear Through June 19
SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Nearly 70 Cal Poly students and professors aboard the California State University System's Golden Bear crossed the equator just before Mother's Day and are heading for Tahiti, Tonga, New Caledonia before Hawaii and home June 19.
Along with students from the California Maritime Academy, they're studying oceanography, astronomy, anthropology and more, as part of the 2008 Cal Poly at Sea program.
The Golden Bear is crewed by students from the California State University's California Maritime Academy, supervised by CMA professors. Five Cal Poly professors are on board for the journey, teaching Cal Poly courses to students from both CSU campuses.
Cal Poly at Sea is sponsored by Cal Poly and the California Maritime Academy. Participants live and study with cadets from CMA aboard their training ship, The Golden Bear.
A 500-foot ex-navy oceanographic vessel, The Golden Bear is a unique living laboratory that offers Cal Poly Students (referred to as cadets) two months of shipboard experience, classroom instruction, and a unique international travel experience.
Cruise 2008 will be to the South Pacific during Spring Quarter. The tentative itinerary includes stops in Tahiti, Tonga, Australia, New Caledonia, and Hawaii. More detalis are on the Ports of Call page.
The Cal Poly at Sea cruise rotates according to a three-year cycle, each time visiting a different region of the Pacific. The 2006 Cruise went on the South America, including port calls in: Costa Rica, Chile, Peru, Cocos Island, and Mexico. Students on the 2007 voyage to Asia visited Japan, China, Vietnam, Guam and Hawaii. After the 2008 cruise to South Pacific, the Golden Bear will return to South America in Spring 2009.
Click here to visit the Golden Bear Spring 2008 blog and photos
Click Here to learn about the Cal Poly At Sea program
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