A University of Hawaiʻi program designed to enrich the quality of life of its students and the community by increasing their ocean awareness, understanding and appreciation is celebrating its “golden” anniversary. The Marine Option Program (MOP) turns 50 years old in fall 2021.
Started in 1971 by pioneers John Craven and Jack Davidson, MOP has turned into one of the most dynamic and inclusive programs in the UH System. Not only is it open to students of all majors across the 10-campus system, MOP prides itself on the experiential marine-related education it provides. Students enrolled in the program are required to complete 12-16 credit hours of marine-related courses, an interdisciplinary studies seminar course and a final project. More than 2,000 students have graduated from MOP in its 50-year history.
“We are very excited to celebrate MOP’s 50th,” said Cynthia Hunter, MOP director and professor of marine biology at UH Mānoa. “Literally thousands of alumni have gone through this program that supports students by preparing them for careers in marine-related fields through hands-on experiences.”
MOP started as an experiential program organized by faculty and students, and funded primarily by the state legislature and grants. Because UH did not offer a marine science-related degree at the time, MOP was created to give students an opportunity to gain experience in this field.
Since 1971, MOP has achieved major milestones, including expanding to all UH campuses; conducting important research such as the Hawaiʻi state fisheries plan, a Kahoʻolawe marine study and green sea turtle projects; hosting dozens of educational events for the community; and jumpstarting the careers of experts in the marine field in Hawaiʻi and across the globe.
2021 University of Hawai?i