A core mission of the OECI is to inspire the next generation of ocean explorers and foster awareness of Blue Economy career pathways. The Bridge to Ocean Exploration (B2OE) Program, based out of the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, is an experiential program key to advancing this mission, offering paid, part-time opportunities in ocean science and science communication to interested and eligible students.

For the 2022-2023 cohort of B2OE students, the OECI is collaborating with the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). The OECI is recruiting up to five students to participate in this paid, part-time, experiential learning program, with the following project pathways (click each link below for more information on that project pathway):
Computer science and machine learning
Ocean exploration data science
Interactive digital web design
Media production and 3D animations
Science communication and social media
B2OE Program requirements and expectations include:
- Up to 16h/week (November 2022- May 2023)
- Potential for onsite and/or tele-work.
- Weekly tag-ups with mentors to gauge project progress and answer questions (mentors are also available via email for questions, etc. at any time).
- Participation in OECI student events.
- Participation in pre- and post-experience 360˚ evaluation.
Benefits to BOE Program participation include:
- PAID, part-time opportunity; up to $17/hour salary.
- Exposure to cutting-edge ocean science, engineering, and media production technologies and best practices within the OECI.
- Collaboration with OECI personnel; field trips to tour URI, WHOI, and UNH facilities.
- Opportunity to remotely participate in expeditions about/aboard NOAA Okeanos and (EV) Nautilus.
- Peer-to-peer interaction with other ocean science and exploration interns with NOAA Ocean Exploration and other OECI partners, including Tuskegee University.
- Information exchange and networking opportunities with industry professionals during a “Blue Economy Career Fair”, March 2023.