OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center

08/28/2026

PacWave is Officially Open!

Oregon State University and the Hatfield community celebrated the opening of PacWave with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 27.

PacWave is OSU's wave energy testing facility, where companies worldwide can test technologies designed to generate energy from ocean waves. The facility includes PacWave North and PacWave South, the nation's first grid-connected wave energy test facility located about seven miles off the Oregon coast. The location of PacWave South was chosen by the local fishing community.

Speakers at the event included OSU President Jayathi Murthy, U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle, and Oregon State Rep. David Gomberg, plus Nichole Fitzgerald, Director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office (H2O) and Tim Ramsey, Prgm. Manager for Marine Energy at H2O.

Learn more about how PacWave is helping advance the future of marine energy: https://pacwaveenergy.org/

Oregon State University
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici
Val Hoyle
U.S. Department of Energy

08/18/2026

The Marine Prototyping Workshop is back - Oct. 19-23 - at the Hatfield iLab!

Build a solid foundation in ocean-ready design in this week-long, hands-on workshop designed for individuals with little or no prior experience in marine prototyping. You’ll gain the practical skills essential for building systems that can withstand harsh marine environments, including:
Computer-Aided Design
Electronics
Machining
3D Printing
Laser Cutting
Sealing and Waterproofing systems
For full consideration, register by Sept. 8; the closing date is Sept. 15. Learn more at https://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/ilab/marine-prototyping-microcredential-workshop
Marine Technology Reporter Magazine
Marine Technology Society
College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences - Oregon State University
College of Engineering - Oregon State University
College of Agricultural Sciences - Oregon State University
NOAA Fisheries West Coast

08/11/2026

Working Together for Wildlife: Newport Response Aids Entangled Humpback

A collaborative effort between marine experts and a local commercial fisherman helped disentangle a humpback whale about 20 miles off the coast of Newport.

While the whale's injuries make this a heartbreaking case, the response from our local community was remarkable. As Lauren Saez, who helped coordinate the NOAA response, said:

"This is truly a heartbreaker because of the whale's injuries, but we will learn so much from this case that can help us prevent future entanglements. We disentangled the whale safely, got all the gear back, and had great collaboration with the fishing industry."

Learn more about this coordinated effort in this article from KLCC. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/07/humback-whale-newport-oregon/
NOAA Fisheries West Coast
Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce
Newport Fishermen's Wives

A humpback whale severely entangled in derelict fishing gear 20 miles offshore of Newport was freed by a team of experts and a local fisherman, but is unlikely to survive because of damage to its jaw.

08/07/2026

Local Science Friday!

Scores of scientists, students and volunteers gathered at Hatfield recently to perform a mass fish necropsy. KLCC was on hand to cover this annual event, which began in the 1990s to help researchers understand how young salmon are faring in the ocean.

Listen at https://www.opb.org/article/2026/08/06/mass-fish-necropsy-helps-forecast-salmon-returns-in-oregon/
NOAA Fisheries West Coast
USFWS Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Scores of volunteer scientists perform a mass fish necropsy in Newport to help forecast future salmon returns.

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

08/04/2026

Future Ocean Stewards Visit Hatfield

Newport and Mombetsu, Japan, have shared an official Sister City relationship for more than six decades! This week, we were delighted to welcome the Mombetsu Youth Delegation to the Hatfield Marine Science Center during their visit to Newport.

During their visit, the students met with marine educators, toured the Innovation Lab, explored the vertical tsunami evacuation site, visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and, of course, spent time with our most recognizable resident, the blue whale skeleton.

As coastal communities located at similar latitudes, Newport and Mombetsu share many of the same environmental features and concerns, including the effects of climate change on our oceans and shorelines.
Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce
Oregon State University

07/30/2026

Looking for a stable career with excellent benefits and a positive team environment?
Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport is hiring Custodians to help maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment at one of Oregon's premier marine science facilities.

* Competitive benefits
* Supportive and collaborative workplace
* Meaningful work that supports research, education, and community engagement
* Beautiful coastal location

If you take pride in your work and enjoy making a difference behind the scenes, we'd love to hear from you.
👉 Learn more and apply: https://oregonstate.wd501.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/OSU_Careers_Site/job/Custodain_JR0000313

Hashtags:

Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County
Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln County, Oregon

07/28/2026

Why replace it when you might be able to repair it?

Stop by the Community Repair Fair at OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center this weekend to learn new skills, connect with your community, and maybe even leave with something working again!

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ar74FtQd3/

07/24/2026

Local Science Friday: What’s drifting through Yaquina Bay?

Take a look at these incredible images of the microscopic organisms that help power our coastal waters!

Since early June, OSU’s Seascape Ecology Lab has been taking a closer look at the bay’s microscopic residents using an Imaging Flow Cytobot (IFCB) at Hatfield's Coastal Monitoring Station. Sampling nearly 24/7, the IFCB has already captured more than 2,000 observations of phytoplankton!

Why does this matter? Phytoplankton may be tiny, but they play a huge role in coastal ecosystems. As the foundation of the marine food web, they support everything from zooplankton to whales and produce a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe. They can also serve as important indicators of ecosystem health.

While most phytoplankton are beneficial, a few species can produce toxins that affect local fisheries—including Dungeness crab—as well as human health. Monitoring these populations helps scientists track ecosystem changes, support fisheries management, guide conservation efforts, and better understand the health of Yaquina Bay.

College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences - Oregon State University
Oregon State University Corvallis, OR
Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission
Images: c of the Seascape Ecology Lab