Research Talks and Breakout Rooms

2025 Research Talks

Join us in the Marine Studies Building auditorium for these short 7 min talks highlighting innovative research happening at HMSC.

• Rob Ames (PSMFC) Harnessing AI to advance marine science and management
• Dawn Barlow (OSU/MMI) Monitoring biodiversity in a changing ocean: collaboration across disciplines and trophic levels from physics to plankton to whales
• KC Bierlich (OSU/MMI) Marine science from the sky: research endeavors from the Center of Drone Excellence (CODEX)
• Josh Bowman (CIMERS) What is that little yellow boat? Introducing Newport hydrographic lines autonomous surface vehicle 
• Francis Chan (CIMERS) TBA
• Angee Doerr (Sea Grant) Anchored in community: understanding the social side of marine social-ecological systems
• Santiago Domínguez-Sánchez (OSU/MMI) The hidden side of a well-known whale: uncovering southern resident killer whale movements
• Dylan Heppell (OSU) Efforts to reduce rockfish and Pacific Spiny Dogfish bycatch in a halibut longline fishery
• Mary Hunsicker (NOAA) Understanding and predicting species distribution changes in the California Current Ecosystem
• Morgan Johnson (OSU/FWCS) Use of underwater video data to model Oregon’s rocky reef fish distributions in untrawlable habitat
• Jim Rice (OSU/MMI) Marine mammals ashore – A review of stranding trends and case Investigations
• Jess Schulte (OSU/COMES) Sharks in the Pacific Northwest: we’re gonna need a bigger boat…..and a better understanding
• Jessica Watson (ODFW) Science in the spin cycle: informing policy without getting pulled under

Breakout Sessions

Breakout Sessions provide an opportunity for small groups to discuss topics of common interest to foster the development of professional relationships and increase collaboration across the HMSC campus community.  The rooms provide a place to share the current state of the topic, its future, and how that future could impact the HMSC vision and goals as we move forward together.  This year there are 10 sessions to choose from.  Room host will help guide the conversation, but active participation is expected by all attendees.  The number of participants in each room will be limited by the size of the room.  Please pick a Breakout Session and join in the conversation.

AI in Fisheries and Marine Science

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are rapidly transforming how marine scientists process complex data streams, detect patterns, and generate actionable insights. This session will introduce applications of AI/ML in the Pacific Northwest, highlight tools already in use by community members, and open discussion on challenges, opportunities, and responsible use across agencies. Target Audience: Marine scientists, managers, and students at HMSC, partner agencies, and community who are curious about AI/ML applications, as well as those actively developing or applying these tools in their research and monitoring programs. Desired Outcome: Participants leave with a shared understanding of how AI/ML can be responsibly integrated into marine research and conservation, and with new connections for collaboration across groups and agencies.

Room Leads: Maria Kavanaugh (CEOAS), Chris Sullivan (CEOAS), and Rob Ames (PSMFC)

Collaborative Data Stewardship

Examining Climate Anxiety as 2026 Researchers

Climate change anxiety is real, especially for members of the marine science community who routinely observe climate responses. In addition to addressing a chronic, baseline level of climate anxiety, the Hatfield community is now coping with novel and acute changes in climate anxiety in conducting our work. In this session, we will introduce the baseline elements - as explored by the Hatfield community throughout 2024 - and discuss how to recognize, acknowledge, and articulate these new changes in our climate anxiety spaces. Concepts of Spheres of Influence/Control will also be explored. Previous attendance at the 2024 sessions is not required. Target Audience: Any member of the HMSC community. Desired Outcome: Participants increase their understanding that: (1) they are not alone; and (2) there are a suite of approaches to help articulate how they approach navigating climate change anxiety.

Finding Your Passion in a Re-wired World of Science (what do I do next?)

Whether you are a student, professor, researcher, or educator, we are presently all facing unique challenges in science. To build resilience in ourselves and our community, we are tasked with finding ways to adapt or pivot, drawing on the skillsets and experience we have gained over time. While the type of job you do or how you do your job may change throughout your career, maintaining passion and a central goal is key to success. In this session, we will brainstorm as a group how to find our passion or personal “mission statement” and what tools we can use to allow us to be flexible, adaptable, and resilient in our scientific career. Target Audience: This is open to anyone pursuing a career in the marine sciences, and will build on some of the themes and goals of the HMSC Early Career Support Group. We will be discussing both how to find jobs and also how to navigate a current job. Desired Outcome: Each person will leave with a personal “mission statement” and tools for navigating uncertainty, while also building community. 

Room Leads: Emily Slesinger (NOAA) & Dawn Barlow (OSU/MMI)

Research and Monitoring using Uncrewed Systems 

Do you use an autonomous system to collect data?  At HMSC we have groups using buoyancy gliders, Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), and Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs). Uncrewed systems can be cheaper than ship time and stay deployed for longer periods, they are able to collect data in hard to access or dangerous areas.  Come chat about your successes and challenges using this type of technology. Target Audience and Desired Outcomes: We would like to use this session to connect users of similar vehicles to create user groups and to answer the question "Can my research be transitioned to an Uncrewed System?".

Room Leads: Eric Fruh (NOAA) & Josh Bowman (CIMERS)

The Future of Marine Science – retooling paths forward in a time of change-Panel Discussion follow-up

This breakout session will be co-hosted by panelists from the morning panel session, and will discuss the most intriguing themes raised during the panel.  Grist for this discussion include each of the questions posed to the panelists, as well as questions, comments and observations of the session participants.  This will help “bring to ground” the ideas we heard about during the panel. 

Room Lead: Caren Braby (Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission), Aja Szumylo (Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative), Zach Penney (Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission)

Pathways for Integrating Research into Fisheries Management in the Northeast Pacific

Wondering how your research can better inform regional fisheries decision-making? This session will explore ways to engage with the Pacific and North Pacific Fisheries Management Councils and integrate new research into their processes. By improving awareness and communication, we can enhance (or even rewire) the connection between HMSC research and management needs, strengthen funding proposals, and generate broader support at the federal level. Target audience: Researchers or future researchers who aspire to engage in applied science for federally managed fisheries. Key outcome: Increase awareness at HMSC of the opportunities available to researchers within the federal Council processes.

Room Leads: Aaron Berger (NMFS Stock Assessment Scientist and former Scientific and Statistical Committee member for the Pacific Council) &  Ali Whitman (Marine Fisheries Analyst, ODFW, North Pacific Fishery Management Council Science and Statistical Committee member)

Rooted in Community: Building Local Networks for Impactful Science Communication

Shifts in Species Distributions: past, present, and future

Please join us for a discussion on research activities aimed at better understanding shifts in species distributions and the potential ecological, social, and economic consequences of such changes. We are interested in hearing from HMSC researchers about their retrospective analyses of species shifts, as well as efforts focused on developing short-term forecasts and long-term projections. Target Audience: We welcome scientists and staff who are interested in sharing their experience and expertise on this topic, as well as those who are curious about this work and would like to learn more and build connections within the HMSC community. Desired Outcomes: A desired outcome for this discussion, beyond knowledge exchange, is to identify synergies among research groups at HMSC to help increase our understanding and ability to predict changes in species distribution.

Room Leads: Mary Husicker (NOAA) & Cheryl Barnes (OSU/COMES)

Uses, Limitations, and the Future of Environmental DNA (eDNA)