April 2000: Pam Rogers, Editor
HMSC Undergoes Five-Year External Review
The HMSC will be undergoing a regular five-year OUS review as a Center/Institute of Oregon State University on April 4 and 5. The review team consists of four members: Russel Meints, Director of the Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology, OSU; Lynda Shapiro, Director of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology; Dennis Willows, Director of Friday Harbor Laboratories; and James Winton, Chief of the Fish Health Section, Western Fisheries Research Center.
The review criteria calls for a careful review by an appropriate institutional agency, review of the purposes for which the center/institute was established, review of the objectives of the center/institute, any changes in objectives that have occurred since the previous review, validity of the center/institute's present objectives and purposes, and the adequacy of its performance.
The expectation for a center or institute is that it will catalyze research and scholarly activity for the faculty and students involved. That is, over some period of time, the research productivity of the faculty and students should be enhanced by the existence and operation of the center or institute. It is expected that the overall productivity should be significantly greater than the sum of the productivity of the individuals if the center/institute did not exist. Productivity in this context should be interpreted broadly and would include quality and number of publications, recognition of the center/institute by appropriate external people and organizations, and ability to attract external funding.
Specific attributes desired are:
Bob Berle Joins Physical Plant Staff
Bob Berle has crossed over the line from temporary to permanent, as he assumes the HVAC technician position left vacant by Brian Willia. Bob has been working here since November and became permanent in February.
Tinged with a bit of wanderlust, Bob retired from the Army in 1979 after tours of duty in Germany, France, Vietnam and Korea. As a civilian, he also went to Kuwait to help rebuild after the Gulf War. The smoke was so thick a flashlight was no help, he remembers. While in Germany he met and married an ethnic Hungarian who lived in Yugoslavia and they have one daughter. Unlike Bob, whose second-generation German parents refused to let him learn German at home, his daughter speaks fluent Hungarian.
For fun, Bob does prospecting, panning for gold, and orienteering (land navigation), computer programming (for fun?!) and reading.
Special Seminar and Workshop on A Balanced Life May 4-5
"Ingredients for a Balanced Life," a presentation by Vivian Simon-Brown, will be given on Friday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the HMSC Auditorium. The public is invited and admission is free. For HMSC individuals, there is also a half-day workshop on Saturday, May 6 from 9-12 in the Library Seminar Room.
The program is sponsored by HMSC and is made possible by funding from the Oregon Council for the Humanities, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. OCH is dedicated to providing opportunities for life-long learning in communities around the state.
What is the good life? What did it mean to the first Europeans who came to this land? What will it mean to us in the next millennium? This presentation is an interactive exploration of the foundational values which help Americans determine quality of life. Through a series of qualitative questions, it looks at the ingredients which make up quality of life and examines how they have changed over time. It also examines national trends past and present which influence American quality of life decisions.
The Saturday morning workshop will explore several topics in greater depth, focusing on specific aspects to sustainable living. Possible topics include defining your own personal quality of life, frugality, finances, community stewardship and responsible consumerism. Whatever the content, the workshop will be interactive with take-home materials. There is a limited enrollment of 20 for this workshop. To reserve space and to indicate your choice of two focus areas, please contact Pam Rogers (7-0212) pam.rogers@hmsc.orst.edu.
Vivian Simon-Brown is a Leadership Educator with Oregon Sate University Extension Service. She is currently developing The Sustainable Living Program, which is designed to improve quality of life and reduce environmental degradation in the Pacific Northwest by fostering new consumption patterns and sustainable lifestyles.
Anja Robinson Shellfish Fellowship Offered for First Time
Long-time oyster aquaculture researcher Dr. Anja Robinson has made possible a special fellowship for graduate students in shellfish aquaculture research at the HMSC. This is to support either master's or doctoral students working with shellfish, who show commitment and promise to their career choice and who meet the graduate entrance requirements of the university and the department in which they will study.
To apply, students must submit a one or two-page application letter concisely proposing the research problem to be investigated and defining objectives, methods, and significance of results. The hypothesis to be tested must be clearly stated. Please include a budget, letter of recommendation by major professor, and a statement of current financial support.
A master's student is eligible for funding for a maximum of two years and a doctoral student for a maximum of three years. The recipient is expected to give a report at the Markham Research Symposium on June 2. The award for 2000 will be $1,000. Application deadline is May 15. Please submit applications to Dr. Lavern Weber.
Spring Scholarship and Award Deadlines
$10,000 Mamie Markham Research Awards - research conducted by graduate students or post-doctoral researchers - scientific merit most important criterion - preference to proposals using HMSC or Astoria Seafood Lab. Deadline is May 1.
$7,500 Holt Marine Education Fund - undergraduate or graduate students in marine sciences producing marine-related educational output for course, public education, extension . Deadline is May 15.
$5,000 Bill Wick Marine Fisheries Award - gradute students in area of marine fisheries ecology. Deadline is May 15.
$1,500 Reynolds Scholarship - graduate students in residence at HMSC - paid in three equal installments beginning Fall Term. Deadline is May 15.
$500 Schawantes Memorial Fellowship Fund - graduate students in residence at HMSC - to foster sound marine resource management. Deadline is May 15.
NEW - $1,000 Anja Robinson Shellfish Fellowship - See related article
More information can be obtained in the HMSC Director's office (7-0212) directors.office@hmsc.orst.edu. All applications are to be turned into Dr. Weber. All winners must present a 5-10 minute report on their research at the June 2 Markham Research Symposium.
2000 Summer Marine Day Camps Filling Up Fast
Coastal Adventures, for children 8-12, is a four-day, hands-on camp to introduce children to the wonders of the animals and plants that live in the marine environment of the Oregon coast. In a new outdoor adventure eachday, campers will investigate life on the rocky shores, old growth forests, estuary marshes and mud flats, and the sandy beach. Fun and educational follow-up activities in the HMSC laboratories will teach observation and collection techniques. Activities will also strive to instill a sense of stewardship for the environment and a respect for the life found here.
Marine Biology, for ages 13-17, is a four-day camp for the student serious about the scientific process, specifically with a focus on marine biology. Daily field trips to the sandy beach, estuary, tidepools and coastal forests provide an opportunity to collect specimens directly from a wide variety of marine environments. Laboratory sessions, using microscopes and other scientific equipment, allow students to analyze collected samples, obtain data, make observations and draw conclusions about water quality, micro and macro invertebrate life, and the health of these unique ecosystems.
Cost for each four-day session (Monday through Thursday) is $95 per camper. Hours are 9-3. To register, contact Jan Freeman (7-0159); jan.freeman@hmsc.orst.edu . Preregistration is required and payment must accompany registration. They'll filling up, so act quickly!
New Books
We are now sending our new books list as an email to those interested. It gets posted to the All HMSC list. If you want to receive it, let me know.
Here a few titles that may be of interest:
· Crisis on the coast : federal on- scene coordinator's report and assessment of M/V New Carissa oil spill response / submitted to Capt. J.E. Veentjer, C. Field ; from Capt. M.J. Hall. Portland, Or. : USCG Marine Safety Office, [1999].
This is an attempt at a comprehensive overview of the grounding of the New Carissa with a description of events and discussion of issues.
· The salmon : a circular pop-up book / David Hawcock ; illustrated by Bryan Poole. New York : Hyperion Books for Children, c1995.
So what if it's Atlantic salmon; it's still a pretty neat pop-up. Every research library needs a few.
· Environmental change in the Pacific Basin : chronologies, causes, consequences / Patrick D. Nunn. Chichester ; New York : Wiley, c1999.
The author focuses on the historical environmental changes in the region without overstating the role of humans. Lots of historical information.
· The origin and evolution of larval forms / edited by Brian K. Hall, Marvalee H. Wake. San Diego : Academic Press, c1999.
Jackie Webb, a one-time summer instructor at HMSC and now at Villanova, wrote the chapter on fish.
· Marine and coastal geographical information systems / edited by Dawn J. Wright and Darius J. Bartlett. London ; Philadelphia : Taylor & Francis, 2000, c1999.
Our very own Dawn Wright edited this book that addresses the issues and challenges of applying GIS to the wetter part of our world.
· Seaweeds of New Zealand : an illustrated guide / Nancy M. Adams. Christchurch, N.Z. : Canterbury University Press, 1994
This lovely book with great color drawings was recommended by Cynthia Trowbridge.
Dan and Karen Kreeger came for a visit recently and left us with this report: "Here's a little bit about what Dan and I are up to these days. We're still living in Ridley Park, PA, an older suburb just south of Philly. Dan's a senior scientist with the Patrick Environmental Center at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He continues to study the physiological ecology of suspension feeders. He also just finished up teaching an invertebrate zoology course at Drexel University. Last fall I left Penn and am now freelance science and medical writing for a number of places, including The Scientist, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and several newsletters and consumer magazines. And, as you know, our biggest news is Austin, who is now almost 16 months old."
Sylvia Pauly, HMSC Visitor Center staffer, was recognized as the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce's February Employee of the Month. Sylvia was selected based on quality of service, friendliness, knowledge of the area and role model for other employees. Bill Hanshumaker aid, "Sylvia has a love for our stretch of the coastline and is knowledgeable regarding local hotels, restaurants and other attractions. I firmly believe that the friendliness and positive attitude Sylvia shares with our visitors is one of the reasons why people decide to stop and spend additional time exploring Newport. Sylvia is the glue that holds our successful volunteer program together." Way to go, Sylvia!
After the Unstoppable Soup Kitchen finally stopped at Spring Break, the amount that the HMSC people raised for the Lincoln County Food Share was a whopping $665.10, or the equivalent of 3990 pounds of food. Many thanks to all the wonderful people who contributed either soup, goodies or money! We have a high standard to reach next year, so make a note of any tasty soup recipes you come across and save them for next winter.