Though oceans cover 70% of Earth’s surface, their depths are truly our “last frontier”.
Oceanography will not be available as a new major from 2022.
Existing students enrolled in this major may continue in the subject.
Please see the new interdisciplinary major in Marine Science.
This watery world is so challenging to explore, that we have more detailed maps for the surfaces of the Moon, Mars, and Venus.
Yet understanding our ocean planet is essential for meeting the challenges of our collective future. The physical, biological, chemical, and geological processes that power the Earth system unite in the ocean, determining Earth’s climate, regulating the composition of our atmosphere, supporting human civilisation, and sparking our curiosity.
Otago is uniquely placed to study these interlinked processes and their effects on our lives. The Southern Ocean is on our doorstep, with a wide range of marine environments easily accessible to our research fleet. We work from shallow harbours to the deep ocean, around sub-Antarctic islands and in majestic fiords, alongside temperate coastlines and floating over tropical reefs.