Discover Ocean Engineering (DOE)

Discover Ocean Engineering is a unique opportunity to explore one of the most dynamic and close-knit majors at MIT, Course 2-OE. DiscOE enables students to learn about marine technology, the 2-OE major, and careers in ocean technology through field trips, lab tours, talks with pioneers in the field, and hands-on building. Want to build underwater robots? Interested in the cutting-edge research at the forefront of ocean engineering? Looking to experience the diverse marine ecosystems around Boston? Then you’re in the right place!

We encourage all anticipated majors to apply, since ocean engineering is an incredibly diverse field which touches on all different types of engineering and sciences.

The People
As an entirely student-run program, DOE gives incoming first-year students a chance to learn about life at MIT and ocean engineering from the people who know it best. DOE events are planned and supervised by upperclassmen of MIT’s autonomous marine robotics team (Arcturus) as well as students involved in Ocean Engineering research. Lunches, machine shop tours, and flash talks give students the opportunity to meet the professors and graduate students who may teach, advise and encourage them for the rest of their undergraduate career.

The History
Although maritime engineering has been a part of MIT since the beginning. the Ocean Engineering curriculum has been updated and reframed within the Mechanical Engineering Department. Students take around half of their classes in the regular ME curriculum and half in specialized project classes. Highlights include 2.017 in which students work in teams to build and program a marine robot over the course of the semester. DOE has been an important part of the OE program for nearly 13 years.

What Will We Do?
A student in DOE will have a blast building Sea Perches and compete for prizes in the MIT Sea Grant test tank.

Students can also look forward to field trips in various Ocean Engineering Labs, where faculty will discuss their work.

They’ll also get a closer look at boats and submarines from MIT’s Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Lab, MIT Sea Grant, and Arcturus during a demo at the MIT Sailing Pavilion.

Throughout the program we will be taking several trips around Boston to explore the city, from kayaking to whale watching, finally closing with a sunset view of the city from the top of the Prudential Center.

Dates: Tuesday, August 19 – Saturday, August 23, 2025
Number of participants: 30
Cost: $0