The Mo'orea Class of 2009 was an intensive field research course led by professors Brent Mishler, Pat Kirch, George Roderick, and Vince Resh. Based at the Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station in French Polynesia, the class involved students conducting independent studies across various scientific disciplines including integrative biology, anthropology, and geomorphology. Research projects explored diverse ecological themes such as the defensive roles of crustaceans in coral colonies, the impact of invasive trees like Falcataria moluccana, and the distribution patterns of marine and terrestrial gastropods. Students also examined human-driven environmental changes, ranging from the geomorphological effects of boating on reef islets to the historical impact of coral collection for ancient Polynesian marae construction. The curriculum emphasized rigorous data collection and statistical analysis using software like JMP to evaluate biological patterns such as zooplankton abundance cycles and jumping spider aggression. Throughout their projects, students worked closely with graduate student instructors David Hembry, Maya deVries, and Stephanie Bush, while also collaborating with local Tahitian experts and the Moorea Biocode Project.