What was the MSI? The Marine Studies Initiative at Oregon State University fostered innovative approaches to solving societal challenges for our ocean and coasts through collaboration and a transdisciplinary approach. The MSI was built upon three major goals.
- To provide a new transformational educational experience, highlighted by a new undergraduate major and minor in marine studies.
- To advance leadership in transdisciplinary marine research and scholarship through a variety of research focus areas.
- To increase societal impact in Oregon and beyond via expanding partnerships and increasing access to education in marine studies.
The goal of the MSI was to build upon the excellence in marine programs across OSU and the state, including in Corvallis, Newport and along the Oregon coast, by amplifying existing efforts and catalyzing new opportunities.
Check out the Marine Studies Initiative Impact Summary to see what the Marine Studies Initiative accomplished!
Check out the ten year Marine Studies Initative Strategic Plan!
Undergraduates could enroll in courses, degrees, and certificates related to the ocean and coasts. With exceptional facilities and mentoring in existing marine science programs, and the new Marine Studies major and minor, OSU is home to a culture of student research. Field and study abroad programs provided further opportunities for experiential education. OSU students also have access to clubs that provide personal and professional development activities.
Graduate students and post docs had unique opportunities to conduct research in a variety of marine-related fields.
Researchers could get involved in various transdisciplinary MSI focus areas, for example, “Food from the Sea.”
Community college students could dual enroll, through the OSU Degree Partnership Program, to access the university’s marine programs. Students talked with OSU advisors about taking marine courses through OSU and scenarios for transitioning to the university. Internship and other experiential educational opportunities were also available through Hatfield Marine Science Center.
K-12 students participated in day camps, career days, and lab and field experiences offered through the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center.
Life-long learners took advantage of a number of different opportunities including continuing education and professional development programs at OSU and volunteer activities at Hatfield Marine Science Center.
A new teaching and research building was officially opened at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, OR in fall of 2021. For more information, see the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building website. New student housing in Newport is currently in the design phase. Following the completion of these facilities in Newport, we will pursue a new education, research, and outreach building to be built in Corvallis which will then become the new headquarters for the Marine Studies program.
Oregon State University is a strong research university holding a top-tier research designation from the Carnegie Foundation. OSU is also one of only two land, sea, space, and sun grant institutions in the United States. As such, OSU has a multitude of research opportunities that undergraduates and graduates from all disciplines can access. OSU also offers many hands-on experiences both in the field and in labs. The incredible location of OSU allows for easy access to the coast, estuaries, bays, agricultural fields, forests, rivers, streams, lakes, cities, and mountains all while maintaining a small-town feel.
Check out: admissions.oregonstate.edu/beaver-nation
Hatfield is full of unique opportunities. Courses and internships: Courses offered at Hatfield cover topics such as marine/estuarine birds, marine mammals, marine invertebrates, aquatic invasions, and ecology courses. Hatfield also provides many student internships through Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), Sea Grant, and agencies including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Internships range from atmospheric science to invertebrate and marine mammal biology to management and policy.
Collaborative research: Hatfield not only provides a variety of research opportunities, but students study alongside professionals from the OSU Marine Mammal Institute and Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, and agencies including EPA, the USDA, Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (ODFW), and NOAA, and the Oregon Coast Aquarium just a block away. This creates an excellent opportunity for networking with potential future employers.
Housing while studying and learning: Students and interns can spend multiple terms living in student housing facilities in Newport while taking courses that are field-based or completing research and work on the bay, at sea, or in the community.
Check out our new webpage, maco.oregonstate.edu, to find information on academics at the coast or ocean-focused.