What’s it like to work as a marine tech? Four UW-Milwaukee students took a five-day crash course that taught them all about this career — and earned them a marine tech deck microcredential from the Marine Technology Society.
The 2026 Expedition to Great Lake Michigan course, funded by the Freshwater Collaborative, turns classroom learning into intensive practical skills practice aboard UW-Milwaukee’s Research Vessel Neeskay. The course is open to students from any university.
On day one, Neeskay Captain Max Morgan provided an overview of marine tech careers, terminology and vessel operations. The next day, students went through hands-on activities in the classroom followed by a day aboard the ship to get hands-on reinforcement of what they learned. Skills included knot tying, hydraulic winch operation and safety, scientific equipment deployment and pilothouse procedures.
“Students learned how to bridge the gap between vessel operations and science at sea,” Morgan said.
The second part of the week focused on freshwater research. Ben Peterson, assistant professor, introduced students to limnology, mercury cycling, and field sampling methods. Then they applied their knowledge aboard the Neeskay during a foggy, rainy expedition on Lake Michigan.
“The day on the vessel mimicked a sampling day from my research, where we collected water, sediments, phytoplankton and mussels for a study on mercury cycling in the Great Lakes,” Peterson said. “The goal was to make it as real-life as possible, to give them a sense of what it’s like to be on a project on a research vessel.”
Ethan Lloyd, a conservation/environmental sciences major, described his life as “remarkably terrestrial.” He hadn’t spent much time on the water prior to this course and thought it could be an interesting addition to his summer. Not only was it a fun learning experience, but it opened his eyes to career possibilities.
Celia Vowels, on the other hand, is an international studies major who works as a deckhand on the Neeskay.
“I took this class to go deeper with my boat knowledge, learn about what it takes to be a marine technician, and gain some credentials,” she said. “This class confirmed that I want to get more involved with boats career-wise, and this was a cool way to explore another route to do that.”
By Heidi Jeter, Freshwater Collaborative