Report from the Field

On August 22, 2008, over 2,500 people took a grand tour of NOAA’s ocean and atmospheric science programs at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

"NOAA and Our Planet; Our Oceans, Our Coasts and Our Weather", a unique event developed by the NOAA West Regional Collaboration Team (NOAA West), aimed to improve the public’s understanding of NOAA’s programs and services along the West Coast through direct interactions with NOAA scientists and hands–on exhibits.

NWFSC staff joined 40 volunteers from NOAA’s Fisheries Service, Ocean Service, Weather Service, Research, Marine and Aviation Operations to highlight NOAA’s collaborative research activities in Oregon and the greater Pacific Northwest. Partners at the event included Oregon State University/NOAA Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies (CIMRS) and Oregon Sea Grant.

The event provided visitors with the opportunity to investigate tools NOAA scientists use to manage ocean resources and fisheries, learn how oceans and human health are connected using an interactive display, and climb inside a NOAA Navigation Response Team (NRT) boat, among other activities.

Center Director and NOAA West co–lead Usha Varanasi joined NWFSC staff Tom Hom, Casey Ralston, and Su Kim at the event, together with distinguished guests Fritz Graham (Field Representative to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden) and Jessica Hamilton (Natural Resources Policy Advisor to Oregon State Governor Ted Kulongoski).