NEWPORT, Ore. - A mini-film festival outlining some of the latest in coastal research and marine initiatives will be held on Thursday, Sept. 22, at Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

The series of short films will run from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and again from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Hennings Auditorium of the Visitor Center. The HMSC Film Festival is free and open to the public.

Among the topics in the films are:

  • Oregon State University's Marine Studies Initiative;
  • Ocean sound in the bottom of the Mariana Trench, with NOAA's Bob Dziak;
  • Blue whales nursing, with Leigh Torres of OSU's Marine Mammal Institute;
  • Ocean acidification, by OSU's Justin Smith, with Caren Braby and Steven Rumrill of ODFW;
  • At sea larvae and plankton sampling with faculty and students from the Cowen/Sponaugle Lab at HMSC.

Also featured will be OSU's Bill Chadwick, who will present a summary of a research expedition searching for new hydrothermal vents, and a time-lapse video of the R/V Thompson going through the locks into Lake Union in Seattle.

The university's latest marine-themed commercial will also be shown.

"These films exemplify the Marine Studies Initiative recently launched by OSU, said Bob Cowen, director of the OSU center. "We are excited about the opportunity to share our cutting-edge research with a wide audience through these dynamic and impactful films."

More information is available at the center's event website, http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/events. Visitors traveling from the Willamette Valley should check on road closure information for U.S. Highway 20 at http://us20pme.org

 

Source: 

Maryann Bozza, 541-867-0234, [email protected]

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