Aquarium Science Program

06/13/2026

Congratulations, AQS Grads!! 🎉🎓✊🦈
This is only a small sampling of our graduating cohort this year, and we couldn't be prouder of them! They rose above the challenges like the shining sea stars they are! 🌟
Many already have jobs lined up and all of them are on to new adventures in the field. As they put their best fins forward and step out into that big ol' pond, we will be behind them, cheering them on to greater heights (or depths?)
Either way, grads, cling like barnacles to those dreams and keep up the amazing work. We know you will do great things! 🤩

06/11/2026

Ask and ye shall receive.
Months ago I told my students how hard it was to find an anatomically correct, life-size stuffed shark to demonstrate how to put sharks into T.I. Seriously, why would anyone put the gills BEHIND the pectoral fins!?! 🙄 Anyhoo, one of my talented students recently surprised me with this masterpiece of crochet magic - a chain catshark that is not only adorable, but accurate! I love it so much! 🥰🦈

06/09/2026

It was the 137th (roughly) annual Aquarist Olympics and our students gave it their all. Oh, the carnage!There was heckling, shoving, stealing, sabotaging, and cheating, all in the name of fun, and to win points that meant absolutely nothing. Did everyone get wet? Yes. Were any of the judges bribed? Maybe. Was everyone still friends at the end? Absolutely! This is our most sacred tradition and one we look forward to all year. Well done, Olympians! 💦🦈🏅

05/26/2026

This term, our students have braved cold water, slippery rocks, bruised backsides, and razor-sharp barnacles, all in the name of SCIENCE! Tidepooling is not for the faint of heart, but when cool spots like Otter Rock, Boiler Bay, and the Devil's Punch Bowl are calling your name at low tide, you just gotta go! Extra props to the students who found enough urchin tests to advertise the Program 😂👏

05/26/2026

Introducing the new leadership in the Aquarium Science Program! 👏👏👏
Welcome to Steve Vogel, our new Director of the Teaching Aquarium, and our full-time instructor, now in her new role as Dean of Aquarium Science, Dr. Carla Schubiger!
Looking forward to a new era for Aquarium Science, and with a full cohort starting in the Fall, they will have their work cut out for them. Let's train some future aquarists!

04/14/2026

Aquarium Science all-stars, past and present met up at this year's AALSO symposium in Kansas City. It's great to see our grads still out there making an impact on the industry. Looking forward to the future!

04/01/2026

Studies show that the word "aquarium" is difficult for most people to pronounce, due the presence of a "q" and its similarity to "Aqua Man." Therefore, we have decided to rename our world-class program the much more pronounceable Underwater Zoo Science Program. This change may also bring with it opportunities to expand our curriculum to classes such as underwater basket weaving, underwater welding, and underwater polo, just to name a few. Our website will be updated shortly.

03/25/2026

It's hard work, but somebody's gotta do it 😮‍💨

Aquarium Science Student Aquarists, Indiana Ellis and Brett Comsa have mastered the art of Octopus handling and are putting their skills to do good use in the Aquatic Animal Health Program! Aquarium Science Program

02/27/2026

The National Visiting Committee was an absolute blast this year! Our guests of honor were (in no particular order):

Megan Olhasso, Monterey Bay Aquarium
James Collins, Segrest Farms
Steve Vogel, Oregon Coast Aquarium
Barrett Christie, South Carolina Aquarium
Chris Spaulding, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Kyle Hascall, Oregon Zoo
Richard Prince, Wonders of Wildlife
Jennie Jansen, National Aquarium
Steve Bailey, New England Zoo

Warm, sincere thanks to all who participated, visitors and locals alike. The Aquarium Science students learned so much and were inspired to reach for the stars! You all made it happen! ❤️🦈❤️

02/22/2026

Why all the cleaning? Is royalty coming to the Aquarium Science Building? 👑 Nope! Even better! The National Visiting Committee, composed of top-notch aquarium professionals from around the country, is coming to town! Every year they come from far and wide to meet with our students, give them practice job interviews, inspect the Program, and enjoy some prime Oregon Coast seafood (not to mention the gorgeous weather 🌧️☔🌧️)
So the students rolled up their sleeves, applied some elbow grease, and spit-shined the Teaching Aquarium from top to bottom. Gotta put our best fin forward 😉🦈🐡🐠🐟!