Student stands next to photos capturing different types of educational activites offered at the Wrigley Marine Science Center: sample collection while on a kayak, solar panel wiring, and hiking

Steven Lim poses beside a photo of himself wiring solar panels as part of the Wrigley Institute’s Catalina Residential College course, ENST 320B: Energy and Air Sustainability, where students gain an immersive look at energy production and distribution on Catalina Island. (Photo: Nick Neumann/USC Wrigley Institute)

New art exhibit “On Island Time” celebrates student photographers

The exhibit, on display at the Wrigley Marine Science Center, captures the distinctive sights and experiences of Catalina Island.

ByUSC Wrigley Institute for Environment & Sustainability May 26, 2026

Each year, the Wrigley Institute hosts a new exhibit in the Wrigley Marine Science Center’s Art Park on Catalina Island. The exhibit is typically installed in early May – timed to engage the many students and researchers who visit the island campus during the summer. Featured artists are USC students and faculty whose work intersects with themes of the environment and sustainability.

The 2026 exhibit spotlights photos by Wrigley Institute interns. Since 2022, the institute has offered a photography internship at WMSC as part of the annual Environmental Communications Internship. Living and working on Catalina Island for the duration of the summer, the interns help to capture both the experiences of students and researchers and the beauty and wonder of the unique ecosystem surrounding WMSC.

The interns come from a wide range of disciplines, from journalism at USC Annenberg to screenwriting at USC Cinematic Arts, but they share at least two things in common: a deep admiration for the natural world and an eye for capturing it thoughtfully.

“I try to create space for the interns to follow their interests and creativity, but one of my main goals is to help them learn what it means to create content for a brand. That’s a specific skill that’s crucial for earning a living as a creative professional,” says Wrigley Institute Associate Director for Public Communications Kathryn Royster, who serves as the photography interns’ mentor and co-leads the environmental communications internship with Executive Director Jessica Dutton. “I’m continually blown away by how talented and adventurous these interns are, and it’s a real joy to see them build confidence and pride in their work over the course of their time with us.”

The photographs selected for this year’s exhibit capture the essence of what it means to live and learn on Catalina Island. Interns featured include: