Diving into Discovery: EEB UG Students Study Marine Life on Horse Island

Yale EEB undergraduate students are diving into marine life research through a new hands-on version of the Invertebrates course led by EEB Professor Casey Dunn. Each week this fall, students travel to Yale’s Horse Island, a 17-acre site in the Thimble Islands, to collect, identify, and study marine invertebrates such as sponges, crabs, and sea worms.

Working from the island’s field station, part of the Yale Peabody Museum, students process and photograph their specimens, contributing directly to the museum’s collections. The immersive fieldwork mirrors the research process used by professional biologists and offers an engaging opportunity to study marine biodiversity up close.

This initiative highlights EEB’s commitment to experiential learning and interdisciplinary engagement, welcoming students from across Yale to explore ecology in action. As sophomore Madelyn McElroy noted, “It’s the day I look forward to the most in my week… being out here, it’s just beautiful.”

Read the full story that includes a feature  video at Yale News!