Take a deep dive
Immerse yourself in learning at Marine Science Day
Have hands-on experiences and get behind-the-scenes access to the magic that happens at Newport’s Hatfield Marine Science Center during the annual science fair and open house this Saturday, April 12.
The free, family-friendly event showcases the diverse marine research on the Hatfield campus. This year's theme is "Ocean Wonders," and the activities and exhibits highlight research discoveries and how they help us better understand the wonder of the ocean and how it affects our lives.
This year, there will be more than 40 hands-on marine science exhibits. These exhibits showcase marine mammals, aquaculture, fisheries, seabirds and sharks. Visitors can also learn about ocean engineering, touch crabs and sea stars, look at plankton under microscopes, explore the visitor center and climb aboard the R/V Kalipi, a 29-foot aluminum vessel used in nearshore research.
This year, a mini Big Blue Film Festival has joined the lineup. Guests are invited to sit back and relax with films that transport them around the world, exploring ocean wonders.
The behind-the-scenes tours have been expanded due to last year's overwhelming interest and will run throughout the day.
All tours are free, and tickets are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are available in the courtyard area at the Welcome Tent.
The Hatfield Marine Science Center is a research and teaching facility on the Yaquina Bay estuary, roughly one mile from the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. It plays an integral role in marine and estuarine research and instruction programs, as a laboratory serving resident scientists, as a base for far-ranging oceanographic studies and as a classroom for students. In addition to Oregon State researchers and students, its campus includes research activities and facilities from six different state and federal agencies.
Marine Science Day runs from 10 am to 4 pm this Saturday, April 12 at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, located at 2030 SE Marine Science Drive in Newport. For more information, go to hmsc.oregonstate.edu.
Tours
Seawater Tour - 10:30 am and 1:30 pm
Yaquina Estuary Trail Tour - 10:30 am and 1:30 pm
Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Tour - 11 am and 1 pm
Coastal Monitoring Station Tour - 10:30 am, noon and 1:30 pm
Marine Operations Tour - 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Big Blue Film Festival
1-2 pm
Carem Ford Phillips Auditorium in the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building