Beyond the Shoreline: How We Can Protect, Study, and Power Our Shared Oceans

Reading through the incredible history of Tabor Academy and its unique relationship with Buzzards Bay got me thinking. It’s one thing to stand on the edge of Sippican Harbor and admire the sheer, raw energy of the ocean—the rising tides, the constant wind, and the relentless roll of the waves. It’s another thing entirely to realize that we, as high schoolers, have a massive role to play in protecting this giant "natural battery" and finding ways to safely harness its power.

As a high school senior getting ready to head out into the world, I’ve realized that marine conservation and ocean renewable energy aren’t just topics reserved for PhD scientists and engineers. The front lines of climate change are right here in our coastal backyards, from ocean acidification to rising water temperatures.

If you want to move from being a bystander on the beach to an active protector of our seas, here are a few tangible ways you can get involved right now:

1. Dive into Community Science (Citizen Science)

You don’t need a degree to help collect critical data. Local conservation groups, watershed associations, and organizations right here around Buzzards Bay often look for volunteers to monitor water quality, track local wildlife, or document the impacts of rising tides. By participating in a beach cleanup or a water-sampling day, you’re helping scientists build the datasets needed to combat localized pollution and study climate trends.

2. Bridge Engineering with Ecology

If the idea of turning ocean waves into electricity excites you, look into STEM programs, robotics clubs, or environmental engineering competitions. The future of marine energy relies on designing structures that can capture wind, tidal, and wave power without disrupting delicate marine ecosystems. Try your hand at building a small-scale water turbine or wind collector for a science fair project, or take a physics or environmental science class to understand the mechanics behind fluid dynamics and energy conversion.

3. Advocate for Blue Energy and Marine Conservation

A lot of people don’t know that ocean renewable energy is even an option. You can use your voice—whether through school clubs, local town hall meetings, or social media—to raise awareness about the importance of investing in clean, marine-based energy. Advocate for local policies that protect estuaries from runoff and support research into sustainable offshore wind and tidal projects.

4. Reduce Your Own Coastal Footprint

Remember, what happens on land directly impacts Marion Harbor and the greater Atlantic Ocean. Reducing plastic use, participating in local dune-restoration projects to prevent erosion, and being mindful of chemical runoff from fertilizers are everyday choices that shield our bays from stress. Giving the ocean a fighting chance against climate change starts with reducing the immediate local pressures we place on it.

The Tide is Turning

Whether you want to be the engineer who designs the next-generation wave-energy converter, the activist fighting for cleaner harbors, or the scientist studying ocean ecosystems, your involvement matters. The ocean has been giving us life and energy for centuries. Now, it’s our turn to give back, protect its waters, and intelligently harness its power for a cleaner tomorrow.

What’s your next step to help protect our "School by the Sea" and the vast oceans beyond it? Let’s get to work!

About the author:

Abby Wei leads the Boston Chapter and is a rising senior at Tabor Academy with a strong interest in marine and energy engineering. She has hands-on experience building underwater vehicles and using underwater photogrammetry to create seafloor maps, and has developed skills in mechanical design, soldering, CAD modeling, data analysis, and full hardware integration. She also designed and built a composite, modular marine power-generation platform, a portable offshore system that integrates wave, solar, and moisture-enabled energy technologies to support long-duration underwater operations. In addition, Abby conducts independent research on sea level rise and tidal dynamics, gaining experience in scientific analysis, writing research papers, designing scientific posters, public presentations, and communicating results through outreach materials. Through these experiences, Abby has developed both technical skills and the ability to explain complex ideas clearly. Her experiences have prepared her to contribute to collaborative learning environments and to support others in understanding engineering concepts.  

Abby is working on her power generation system