Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center
The Oregon State University Hatfield Marine Science Center is located on Yaquina Bay in Newport. (Scenic photo No. lincD0017a)
The Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) is the hub of Oregon State University’s coastal research, teaching and marine extension activities. The Center was built on the shores of Yaquina Bay in 1965 with the help of the Port of Newport and the federal government, which granted the initial construction funds. Since that time, HMSC facilities have expanded to accommodate over 300 researchers and students from many departments at OSU and from several state and federal agencies. Facilities include a Visitor Center, research and teaching laboratories, and on-site housing for undergraduate and graduate students in residence and visiting scientists. HMSC also serves as a base for oceanographic research vessels and is adjascent to the site of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Operations Center – Pacific.
Agencies located at the HMSC include the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (Marine Resources Program), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex), the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, and NOAA which includes elements of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. Collaboration between university and agency scientists and community partners is a hallmark of research and education activities at HMSC which aim to increase understanding of coastal and ocean ecosystems and foster sustainable management of marine resources.
The HMSC Visitor Center, managed by Oregon Sea Grant, offers the opportunity to explore over 15,000 square feet of exhibit space featuring interactive hands-on exhibits and aquaria. The public wing with its beloved touch pool and octopus tank features frequently changing exhibits around the theme “Searching for Patterns in a Complex World.” Computer simulations enable visitors to play the role of scientific explorers while learning about some of the current research underway at the center. Core exhibits highlight how people discover patterns at the global, bird’s eye, human, and microscopic scale. A new webcam features the giant Pacific octopus: http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/visitor/octocam.
Informal education programs are offered in the auditorium, along the Yaquina Bay estuary nature trail, beside the docks and in occasional workshops. The bookstore is stocked with marine-related books, posters, science kits and tools for all ages. Hands-on laboratories are available for school and organized groups with prior reservations, and a dedicated corps of trained volunteers assists visitors with their individual explorations.
Admission to the Visitor Center is by donation. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Winter hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday).
The HMSC was named in 1983 in honor of Mark O. Hatfield, who served Oregon as a state legislator and two-term governor before joining the U.S. Senate in 1966, where he served more than 30 years.
Source
Dr. George W. Boehlert, Director
Address: 2030 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport 97365
Phone: 541-867-0212
Fax: 541-867-0138
Web: http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu