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Hatfield Marine Science Center
Advantages of the Oregon Coast as your learning lab
Take a minute to see why HMSC Academic Program Coordinator and Instructor Itchung Cheung thinks spending the summer at the Oregon Coast at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center is a memorable and worthwhile experience for students in a variety of fields.
Who can take courses this summer at the coast?
You! Pretty much anyone interested in our diverse summer course offerings in Marine and Environmental Studies can participate, whether they want to take a single course or a set of courses in our program. I have identified two themed sets of pathways for those interested in a set of courses for the summer:
Marine Biology path - BI 299 Intro to Marine Biology, BI/FW 302 Biology and Conservation of Marine Mammals and BI 421 and FW 421/521 Aquatic Biological Invasions (new hybrid online/on-site course for this summer).
Educators path - BI 299 Intro to Marine Biology, BI/FW 302 Biology and Conservation of Marine Mammals and SED 431/531 Understanding Free Choice Learning for Education and Outreach.
We've had part-time and full-time students from community colleges, undergraduate and graduate students, teachers, industry professionals, marine resource managers and life-long learners from all over the state and country take our courses. Plus everyone pays in-state tuition rates during OSU Summer Session.
What do you see as the advantages of taking courses at HMSC this summer?
HMSC is a world-class research and teaching facility and the summer is an ideal time to take advantage of field experiences and to learn from top researchers while living on the Oregon Coast. HMSC is located on the scenic Yaquina Bay and allows us to offer courses outside of the classroom. Students enjoy the hands-on learning experiences in small class size settings. Our instructors love their research field and love to teach. Students can pick and choose from several short 2- and 3-week intensive courses and or take a whole set of coordinating courses.
What do you think is the most unique course being offered this summer at HMSC?
I think this summer it’s a tough choice because each course is different.
The BI 299 Intro to Marine Biology course is an amazing introductory field-focused course. Students spend hours outside in the intertidal, mudflat, sandy shore and seabird rookery observing and learning. To top it all off, the course culminates with a research trip aboard a boat to view summer resident gray whales.
The BI/FW 302 Biology and Conservation of Marine Mammals course is always a big hit with students and I can’t imagine this summer being any different, especially with the recent sea otter sightings in the area. Sea otter populations used to extend along the coast from Alaska to California, but due to unregulated hunting, have disappeared from the Oregon Coast since 1906. This rare sighting is pretty exciting.
Another unique course is SED 431/531 Understanding Free Choice Learning for Education and Outreach, which is a real hot topic in bridging science research, education and outreach.
What is your favorite part about Summer Session at HMSC?
It would definitely be the accessibility of the marine environment for learning. Our classes take full advantage of the natural learning environments. Students spend the bulk of their time in the field at a rocky shore, muddy estuary, tranquil bay or sandy shore studying marine life in their natural habitat and also in our newly-renovated education wing full of wet labs with running sea water and tanks with living animals. We have a pretty amazing facility located right on the bay.
What would you tell a student who was interested in Summer Session at HMSC?
There is nothing, absolutely nothing like being immersed in the hustle and bustle of a marine lab during the summer. HMSC is a wonderfully interactive community of students, educators and researchers and you can’t help but be a part of it all. In addition to OSU courses, there is what I call a “nexus” of marine research occurring here with multiple state and federal agencies collocated at the center. Undergraduate students often find research opportunities as a result of taking a course here. Take a look at the HMSC website and be a part of our community. We have on-site housing and some housing scholarships may be available.
What is new for HMSC Summer Session '09 this year?
In addition to our new wet lab facilities, the FW 421/521 Aquatic Biological Invasions course will be offered for the first time as a hybrid course. We are excited about this new format because it offers students the ability to study on their own time and place, but also spend time at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. The hybrid course combines a 4-week online course with an intense field-focused weekend at HMSC.
Back to Summer Session at the Hatfield Marine Science Center.
Visit the HMSC summer website for a complete list of summer 2009 courses, detailed course descriptions, housing and scholarship information.
