The Ocean is Your Classroom

Santa Catalina sits just two miles from the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, an environment so rich in biodiversity it's known as "The Serengeti of the Sea." Because of our location, we have developed a signature program that exposes our students to the wonders of Monterey Bay and allows them to take full advantage of its great educational value.

Three-Year Program

Students stand on a boat and listen to a woman in military fatigues.

Professional Partnerships

Santa Catalina’s proximity to Monterey Bay means the school also has access to world-class researchers. When developing their independent research projects, students often collaborate with researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Lab, and the Naval Postgraduate School.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Langholf)

Hawaii Research Trip

After every school year, rising seniors take a trip to Hawaii to monitor the health of coral reefs, an ongoing research project in which each year's students build on the observations of the last. Students also hike across volcanic craters, walk through native rainforests, swim among juvenile reef fish, and explore green sea turtle habitats.

Program Faculty

Christian Reilly

Dr. Reilly was a marine ecologist before coming to Santa Catalina in 2008. He spearheaded Santa Catalina’s Marine Ecology Research Program, which is one of the reasons he received the school’s Sister Carlotta Distinguished Service Award in 2016. He was also named Teacher of the Month by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in April 2017. Dr. Reilly holds a B.S. from The Evergreen State College, and M.A. in biological science from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Stanford University. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, he enjoys surfing and coaching youth rugby, and volunteers at the Pacific Grove Hyperbaric Chamber.

I like being able to teach about research and exploration so close to the margins of the Pacific Ocean, where I find so much scope for both.

Lisa Marrack

Dr. Marrack taught at Santa Catalina from 1998–2001 and returned in 2014. In between, she worked for the National Park Service in her home state of Hawaii, as a USGS contractor focused on coral reefs, and as a UC Berkeley graduate researcher. One of her favorite aspects of teaching is that she can bring this scientific background to her classroom. She holds a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Williams College, an M.A. from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and a Ph.D. in environmental science policy and management from UC Berkeley.

Dr. Marrack loves that she and her colleagues have the freedom to take a hands-on approach to teaching—whether surveying the rocky intertidal zone of Monterey Bay, designing projects in the garden, or experimenting in the chemistry, physics, and biology labs. She continues to be involved in coastal ecology and conservation work, and takes time to play in nature through trail running and various ocean activities. She is a member of the resident faculty.

Monterey Bay and the natural world inspire me every day. My ultimate goal as a teacher is to guide my students in discoveries of the living and non-living world around them and to be aware of their place in it.