UNIVERSITY

LUMCON supports higher education and research in Louisiana and elsewhere by offering courses, personnel, facilities, and vessels to educators.

For instructors, LUMCON is a unique facility for a variety of field trips to supplement lecture topics.
For students, LUMCON offers university courses throughout the year and hands-on field opportunities for learning. LUMCON has video conferencing capabilities to broadcast courses, seminars, and lectures to classrooms across the state and country.
For researchers, LUMCON provides dormitory facilities, vessels, and lab space for research in nearby habitats.

Contact our Associate Director of Education and Outreach to request a booking or apply for any of the following opportunities. View the LUMCON fees and policies.

REU PROGRAM AND INTERNSHIPS

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program has been sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other grant-funding organizations. Students attending university in the fall semester are eligible to spend 10 weeks at LUMCON during the summer conducting research and learning about careers in the sciences. All experiences are customized based on the applicant and the mentor that they are paired with. For example, past REU students have had projects focusing on shrimp respiration, deep-sea community composition, and coastal nitrogen cycling. Visit our REU webpage or contact our REU Director for more information about our REU program.

Students are also welcome to pursue internships at LUMCON during the academic school year and outside of the REU program. Students should contact DeFelice Center Faculty or the LUMCON Librarian directly to inquire about research and information sciences opportunities.

GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS

This fellowship program is designed to support the research of a graduate student from an underrepresented group in STEM. This fellowship provides an opportunity for graduate students to complete a summer in residence at LUMCON where they will take advantage of LUMCON’s unique location and facilities and opportunities to work with LUMCON scientists to complete research that will contribute to their thesis/dissertation. Go to the Graduate Fellowship program page to find more details and the application form.

COURSES

Semester Courses
LUMCON offers synchronous online courses during the spring and fall academic semesters.

Changing Coastal Oceans (spring 2025)
The Ocean and Society (fall 2025)

Students must be enrolled at one of the following universities to participate in these courses. Interested students should ask their advisors about how to register.

University of New Orleans
Dillard University
Northwestern State University
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Louisiana State University-Eunice
University of Louisiana-Lafayette
University of Louisiana-Monroe
Nicholls State University
Tulane University

Summer Programs

COURSE NAME	COURSE DETAILS
LUMCON’S STEM Preparedness Program	(Offered May through July)- LUMCON’s STEM Prep program is a residential summer program to help freshmen or sophomore level undergraduate students who are seeking an opportunity to gain work experience and learn skills to advance their academic and career goals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields within marine and/or environmental science. Find more program information and application details on the STEM Prep program webpage.
Caribbean Marine Ecology	May 20-31, 2025- This is an intensive 10‐day long, field‐oriented course focused on understanding the ecosystem services provided by terrestrial and aquatic environments endemic to the Caribbean region. Specifically, students will explore the cultural, health, economic, and ecological importance of Bahamian ecosystems, and learn about the role that humans play in influencing these environments. Students will explore course content through daily field activities, lab analyses, guest lectures, tours, and self‐reflection. Find more course information and details on the course one-pager and the course syllabus. Click the link to download the course application. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2025.

COURSE NAME

COURSE DETAILS

LUMCON’S STEM Preparedness Program

(Offered May through July)- LUMCON’s STEM Prep program is a residential summer program to help freshmen or sophomore level undergraduate students who are seeking an opportunity to gain work experience and learn skills to advance their academic and career goals in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields within marine and/or environmental science. Find more program information and application details on the STEM Prep program webpage.

Caribbean Marine Ecology

May 20-31, 2025- This is an intensive 10‐day long, field‐oriented course focused on understanding the ecosystem services provided by terrestrial and aquatic environments endemic to the Caribbean region. Specifically, students will explore the cultural, health, economic, and ecological importance of Bahamian ecosystems, and learn about the role that humans play in influencing these environments. Students will explore course content through daily field activities, lab analyses, guest lectures, tours, and self‐reflection. Find more course information and details on the course one-pager and the course syllabus. Click the link to download the course application. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2025.

Contact: education@lumcon.edu

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips to LUMCON are fully customizable and tailored to fit your needs. Field trips can take place year-round and can last anywhere from 4 hours to several days. Activities could include completing research, microscope work, specimen comparison, a nature walk, paddling, an R/V Acadiana trip, and others by request. Contact our Director of Education and Outreach or learn more about a field trip for university students to LUMCON. Find information on LUMCON fees and policies.

MARINE SCIENCE CLUBS

LUMCON is here to support anyone interested in marine and coastal science. That includes offering suggestions and support for student organizations, faculty, or teachers that want to start a Marine Science Club in their communities, at school, or on campus. By clicking this link to our Marine Science Club page you will be redirected to our page that has suggested activities for existing clubs, as well as, things to consider if you decide to start a club. These are only suggestions. It is important to make your club your own so that it reflects the talents, interests, and diversity of your members. Just remember we are here to help!