A scientist gives a presentation during a teacher workshop. He is holding a coffee mug and standing on a raised stage next to a wooden podium with the MBARI name and logo. In the foreground are teachers seated in rows of tables and chairs with laptop computers.
Image: Calista Kerba © 2026 MBARI

Bridging science and education: George Matsumoto and MBARI’s Summer Internship Program are opening doors to ocean careers.

Since joining MBARI in 1996, George Matsumoto has been at the intersection of research and education, with a commitment to making ocean science and engineering accessible to everyone.

As Senior Education and Research Specialist, Matsumoto leads MBARI’s Summer Internship Program, where students and educators explore the many paths within ocean science, from research and engineering to data science and science communication.

Pairing research and education

A scientist prepares a specimen of a large, red deep-sea jelly for a closer look under a microscope in the lab aboard a research ship.
George Matsumoto’s research focuses on the natural history, evolution, and systematics of jellies and ctenophores. Image: Kyra Schlining © 2019 MBARI

For Matsumoto, curiosity is at the heart of ocean science. His own career path began with a fascination for what lives beneath the ocean surface, which led him to study the ecology and biogeography of open-ocean and deep-sea communities, exploring the diversity of life that inhabits these environments. 

Working closely with MBARI scientists and external collaborators, he has helped describe nine new species, from a deep-sea jelly bigger than a beach ball to a dazzling delicate drifter with bright orange spots. His research has helped reveal the abundance, and importance, of gelatinous animals in marine ecosystems.

“We’re only just beginning to understand the remarkable animals that inhabit our ocean,” said Matsumoto. “Every new discovery reveals just how much more there is to learn. That sense of curiosity drives the questions we ask, and each dive into the deep brings excitement for what we might discover next.”

A bright red jelly swims in open water. The jelly has a bumpy ridge and curly orange tentacles around its wide, flat bell. In the background is blue water.
Deep-sea crown jelly (Atolla reynoldsi Matsumoto, Christianson, Robison, Haddock, and Johnson, 2022) • Image: © 2009 MBARI
A transparent comb jelly swims in open water. The comb jelly has a flat body, four thick tentacles, two lobes, and eight rows of shimmering comb plates. In the background is dark blue, almost black, water.
Rabbit-eared comb jelly (Kiyohimea usagi Matsumoto and Robison, 1992) • Image: © 2019 MBARI
A red comb jelly swims in open water. The comb jelly has an egg-shaped body and eight rows of shimmering comb plates. In the background is blue water, with several large yellow flecks of organic material.
Bloody-belly comb jelly (Lampocteis cruentiventer Harbison, Matsumoto, and Robison, 2001) • Image: © 2022 MBARI
Two transparent comb jellies swim in an aquarium exhibit. Each has a round body with four thick tentacles, two lobes, orange spots, and eight rows of shimmering comb plates. In the background is the bright blue liner of an aquarium exhibit.
Spotted comb jelly (Leucothea pulchra Matsumoto, 1988) • Image: © Monterey Bay Aquarium
A translucent white jelly swims in open water. The jelly has a rounded, bulbous bell and four wispy mouth-arms. The background is dark blue, almost black, water with tiny yellow flecks of organic material.
Bumpy jelly (Stellamedusa ventana Raskoff and Matsumoto, 2004) • Image: © 2017 MBARI
A red jelly swims in open water. The jelly has a large, round bell and five long, finger-like mouth-arms. The background is blue water with tiny yellow flecks of organic material.
Big red jelly (Tiburonia granrojo Matsumoto, Raskoff, and Lindsay, 2003) • Image: © 2026 MBARI

In 2003, Matsumoto launched the EARTH Workshop series, bringing scientists and teachers together to incorporate real scientific data into lesson plans across a variety of subjects—from social studies and writing to arts, music, and dance. As an active member of several educational advisory committees, he helps shape how the ocean is integrated into formal education standards across the country.

A scientist speaks with three teachers during an education workshop. He is crouched down while a teacher shows him something on a computer screen. In the background is a crowded room full of teachers seated around tables for an interactive small-group activity.
EARTH workshops bring educators, scientists, and engineers together to develop tools for bringing real-time data into classrooms and informal education settings. Image: Rose Dalrymple © 2026 MBARI
Publication
Lodes, K., G.I. Matsumoto, and J. Magnusson. 2018. Education And Research: Testing Hypotheses (EARTH). Marine Technology Society Journal, 52(1): 12–17. https://doi.org/10.4031/MTSJ.52.1.3
A scientist wearing a black wetsuit and scuba gear dives in an aquarium exhibit. He is tethered to the surface of the tank with a blue-and-yellow cable. He is holding a gray plastic bucket. In the background are several large fronds of brown kelp and blue-green seawater.
George Matsumoto is a volunteer diver at MBARI’s education and conservation partner, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Image: Calista Kerba © 2026 MBARI

He also leads the Adopt-A-Float program in the Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Array (GO-BGC) project, bringing real-time data about ocean health into the classroom. This program provides students of all ages with the opportunity to engage directly with scientists.

Matsumoto shares his passion for science and discovery beyond the classroom.

He leads MBARI’s collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, facilitating joint research initiatives between our organizations and coordinating education collaborations to share MBARI’s work with Aquarium visitors. An avid scuba diver, you will often see him diving in the Aquarium’s Kelp Forest exhibit, and he joins the Aquarium’s Days of Discovery program every summer, introducing kids with disabilities to the wonders of the ocean.

Launching the next generation of ocean explorers

For more than 30 years, Matsumoto has worked to make ocean careers more accessible. He established the MBARI Summer Internship Program in 1997, providing students with hands-on experience in marine science and engineering.

“For students considering a future in ocean science, experiencing research firsthand offers a glimpse into what a career in this field might look like,” explained Matsumoto. “Providing the opportunity to build technical skills, work with mentors, and access the full breadth of MBARI’s resources helps students decide if ocean science is right for them.”

A scientist speaks with four summer interns in the submersible control room aboard a research ship. He is standing in front of monitors displaying live video feeds and data from the ship’s internal cameras. The interns are seated in chairs on the left side of the frame.
MBARI’s Summer Internship Program immerses students and educators in our work, allowing them to experience ocean exploration, science, and engineering firsthand. Image: Calista Kerba © 2026 MBARI

Since its inception, the MBARI Summer Internship Program has opened doors to careers in ocean science and engineering for students and educators from around the world. Over the course of the 10-week program, participants work alongside scientists, engineers, and communicators, gaining hands-on research experience while building a community with their peers. For many, it is an opportunity they might not otherwise have access to during college or graduate school.

Publication
Matsumoto, G.I. 2015. A different approach to the research internship. Marine Technology Society Journal, 49: 35–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.4031/mtsj.49.4.1

“We have students and educators coming from different academic backgrounds, experiences, and interests, creating an environment where learning is happening in every direction,” said Matsumoto. “Interns spend a lot of the summer learning from each other, and that’s a really valuable part of the program.”

“An MBARI internship creates opportunities for students to develop new skills, build meaningful connections, and discover where their curiosity can take them in ocean science and engineering.”

—George Matsumoto

A community that extends outside our walls

The impact of an MBARI internship extends well beyond a single summer. Over the past three decades, more than 400 interns have participated in the program. MBARI summer interns have pursued careers as researchers, professors, engineers, educators, and science communicators around the globe. More than a dozen former interns have gone on to work at MBARI, and many more work closely with our scientists and engineers as collaborators. Former MBARI interns have contributed to more than 200 research publications, asking and answering bold questions that are transforming ocean exploration and science.

For Matsumoto, one moment has stayed with him over the years: “A former intern from Sri Lanka went on to become a university professor, and years later, she encouraged one of her own students to apply to MBARI’s Summer Internship Program. For me, seeing that come full circle is proof of the program’s impact on the next generation.”

A scientist talks with four summer interns during a kayaking excursion. He has parked his bright yellow kayak between two other kayaks in still water in coastal wetlands. In the background is the riverbank with brown hills and green trees, with coastal mountains and hazy overcast sky on the horizon.
During the 10-week program, George Matsumoto encourages MBARI summer interns to explore the Central Coast, even bringing their weekly meeting to nearby Elkhorn Slough. He hopes they leave MBARI with lasting memories and meaningful connections. Image: Calista Kerba © 2026 MBARI

Matsumoto measures the program’s success by what happens after interns leave MBARI—the careers they build, the connections they carry forward, and the opportunities they create for others. Matsumoto’s work has helped expand the reach of MBARI science and innovation, cultivating a community of ocean explorers whose shared experiences continue to shape ocean science, engineering, and education while inspiring the next generation.

Interested in being an intern?

LEARN MORE