Trinity Barrueta

Trinity Barrueta, a Triton College graduate from North Riverside, credits her geology instructor, Dr. Sheldon Turner, with inspiring her to apply to the STEMSEAS program – a unique voyage to spend 12 days at sea conducting oceanic research. Barrueta was one of just 15 undergraduate students selected nationwide for the expedition.

“It was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done,” she said.

STEMSEAS (STEM Student Experiences Aboard Ships), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), provides students with ocean excursions and research experience while fostering a sense of belonging in STEM fields—science, technology, engineering and math.

Barrueta’s group set sail San Diego on June 1 and landed in Dutch Harbor, Alaska on June 12. The students used the ship’s onboard science labs to conduct geoscience and oceanography research. Working in teams, they conducted projects with planktoscopes, fluorometers, multi-beams, virtual machines and other technologies.

“My group focused on the concentration of fluorescent light and how it correlates to the temperature and salinity of water,” she said. “We used the ship’s fluorometer and instruments to find data.”

In addition to research, Barrueta was amazed by ocean life – an experience far different from what she sees near Lake Michigan.

“I’m a huge animal lover,” she explained. “I saw starfish, sea lions and even squids.”

Turning her love of science into a career, Barrueta will attend Elmhurst University in the fall to study bioinformatics, with hopes of becoming a data scientist in the marine biology field. She says she’s proud of the foundation Triton College gave her, especially the associate degree in science she earned from the college this past spring.

“Current students should enjoy every minute of their experience at Triton College,” she said Barrueta. “Follow your passion.” To read the students’ blog during the excursion, visit stemseas.org/2025/06/.