2025 Tour and Workshop Descriptions
Tours
These tours of cool areas around HMSC that we don’t always get to visit will start in the Marine Studies Building's main lobby. These are 45 min walking tours so dress for the weather.
Age Lab Tour
The Cooperative Ageing Project is a collaboration of Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Northwest Fisheries Science Center NOAA to support US west coast groundfish stock assessments by production ageing fish structures from fishery and fishery independent sources. The tour will take place in BFB Room 130 (Ageing Lab). Attendees will be briefed on the lab's history and our typical workload and dataflow. There will be examples of some different age structures and then we will go to the BFB warehouse and wet lab to see the various stages of lingcod fin ray and other species preparation.
Tour Guide: Nikki Paige (NOAA)
Coastal Monitoring Station Tour
A collaboration of agencies at Hatfield Marine Science Center has created a robust long-term monitoring site off the new pump house pier. The Coastal Monitoring station includes space and infrastructure for in situ and benchtop sampling instruments and an instrument test berth. Come check out the instrument package and learn how you can access our real-time data. The tour will include walking out to the pump house.
Tour Guide: Marnie Zirbel (OSU)
HMSC Genomics Tour
The State Fisheries Genomics Lab (SFGL) and the Cetacean Conservation Genomics Lab (CCGL) use genetic tools to help address the science and management needs of tribal, state, federal and international agencies. Come get a behind the scenes tour of the facility and equipment located on the second floor of the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building.
Tour Guide: Cristín Fitzpatrick (COMES) and Debbie Steel (MMI)
Marine Operations Facility and Research Vessel Tour
Come visit the newly branded Office of Marine Operations. Enjoy a brief presentation about the history of Ship Operations at OSU, see the capabilities of mid-size vessels R/V Pacific Storm and R/V Elakha, and look towards the future with a discussion about R/V Taani. The mission of OSU Marine Ops is to facilitate safe and efficient access to the sea in support of the academic research community. The tour will be indoor/outdoor including a walk through the Marine Ops buildings, along the renovated dock, and on-board R/V Elakha. Please wear close-toed shoes.
Tour Guide: Lindsay Kurelja (OSU/ OMO)
PSRU Lab Tour
The Pacific Shellfish Research Unit conducts research on improving the sustainability of Pacific Oyster aquaculture. This portfolio includes a broad range of science from ecology to molecular genetics. In this tour you'll see the Pacific Oyster Genomic Selection breeding project aquaculture operation. This includes the HMSC oyster repository as well as the onshore systems used to condition adults and produce juveniles that are field tested along the entire Pacific coast from CA to AK. The tour will start on the HMSC pier and move indoors to the NOAA Newport Aquaculture Laboratory where the POGS breeding project has all its aquaculture systems.
Tour Guide: Neil Thompson (USDA)
Workshops
These 1.5 hour workshops provide an opportunity to take a deeper dive into a professional development topic. The descriptions below will give more details about the target audience and what you will need to bring to the workshop to participate fully. Meet at the Marine Studies Building main lobby and you will guided to your room.
Designing Participatory Science Projects for Broader Impacts and Broader Data Collection
Participatory science, aka citizen science or community science, has seen increased popularity with online tools like eBird and iNaturalist, place-based programs like CoastWatch here in Oregon, and many project-specific programs that encourage public engagement in data collection and review. These programs are a great way to broaden the impact of your science through outreach and public participation, but can also provide valuable, and credible, data if they are well-designed. Importantly, public engagement in science helps de-mystify the work that we do, especially when the work of volunteers is organized, includes training and regular communications, and incorporates quality control. However, programs that hope to achieve outreach and science goals require time, community buy-in, and adequate resources – tacking a citizen science project onto a grant proposal without careful planning and budget is unlikely to be reviewed favorably and, more importantly, is unlikely to meet your objectives. Drawing on the success and expertise of the founders of two citizen science programs, COASST and REEF, this workshop will use small group discussions, brainstorming, and review of online resources to cover the basic principles of designing a participatory science activity or program that can enhance data collection and help connect people to research and nature. Target audience: principal investigators, teachers, extension agents, and agency scientists.
Workshop Instructor: Selina Heppell (OSU/FWCS)
Photography for Science Communication
A photo is more than just a record, it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for sharing science. From documenting fieldwork to engaging the public on social media, photography helps tell stories that words alone can’t capture. In this workshop, we’ll explore the principles of design, composition, and visual storytelling that make images effective for both documentation and outreach. Whether you’re just starting out or already experienced, you’ll leave with practical tips you can apply immediately - no matter if you’re shooting with a cell phone or a DSLR.
Topics will include:
- Fundamentals of photographic composition and lighting
- Using images to tell compelling scientific stories
- Best practices for documenting research in the field and lab
- Creating images that resonate on social media and beyond
The tools may differ, but the principles are universal. Join us to sharpen your photographic eye and take your science communication to the next level.
Workshop Instructors: Mark Farley (OSU/HMSC)
Study Your Study Species: Natural Science Illustration 101
Scientists regularly interpret their study species through figures, tables, and papers. Studying an organism through an artistic or illustrative lens can provide insight into their underlying features and biology in a memorable way. Using pencils, watercolors, and artistic construction techniques, Study your Study Species focuses on the first pillar of the scientific process: observation. Follow along with experienced scientific illustrators Natalie Donato and Charles Nye in this hands-on illustration workshop as they provide attendees with the resources and skills to visually dissect and reconstruct common research taxa at HMSC—and beyond. Target audience: HMSC community, OSU/HMSC academics (undergrads, grads, postdocs, PIs) Materials to bring: Access to reference images of your study species (smartphone, laptop, tablet, printer materials, etc.)
Workshop Hosts: Natalie Donato (OSU /COMES) & Charles Nye (OSU/MMI)
You Can Talk to Anyone – Rewiring your “Elevator Pitch”
Building and practicing science communication skills is more important than ever. Nancy Steinberg (CEOAS, OSU), Lindsay Carroll (OR Sea Grant) and Michelle Klampe (OSU Media Relations) will offer a hands-on workshop to equip participants with tools essential to rethink the famous elevator pitch for the current day. Learn how to get to know your audience and transform your scripted 1-2 minute elevator pitch into engaging dialogue. Practice finding meaningful ways to connect people to the impact of your work on their daily lives, no matter their background. This is a judgement-free zone; therefore, we encourage participants to bring an open mind as we find creative ways to navigate these challenging times. Attendees are encouraged to bring paper, pencil/pen, and/or laptop. Items Participants Need to Bring: Paper, pencil/pen, and/or laptop.
Workshop Host: Nancy Steinberg (CEOAS), Lindsay Carroll (Sea Grant), and Michelle Klampe (OSU)