Today is the 2015 World Oceans Day and it only seems fitting to write a bit about our recent trip to the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. Affiliated with Oregon State University, HMSC is nearing its 50th anniversary and was originally established as a marine laboratory. “HMSC currently hosts collaborative research and education programs from seven OSU colleges and six state and federal agencies on HMSC’s 49-acre campus.”
Open to the general public, the HMSC Visitor Center is a working, learning research laboratory. “Our exhibits, programs and classes demonstrate how scientific research enhances our ability to interpret the natural patterns and forces that shape our world, and equips us to better appreciate, manage and sustain coastal and marine resources. The Visitor Center also provides opportunities for conducting research on devices, methods and concepts for informal science education that will advance the art of life-long public education.”
Admission to the HSMC Visitor Center is free, with a suggested donation of $5 (or $20/family). Exhibits (click here) range from a tidepool touch tank to an erosion tank, and science for sustainable fisheries.
Many of the exhibits are interactive, including various educational games centered around biology and the web of life.
Expanding beyond marine science, our kids enjoyed the touch-screen display showcasing the various fields of light.
The museum features clean restrooms, a small gift shop, and volunteers to field any questions you cannot answer. A family could easily spend an hour or two going through the entire facility.
Check the museum websites for various events (like whale watching week), animal feeding schedules, and other educator resources.
