Fort Worden State Park

Bring Your Bones Day 2010

On April 3 from 1-5pm, The Port Townsend Marine Science Center would like to invite you to "Bring Your Bones Day 2010!"

One of their most popular annual events, PTMSC has invited Lee “Boneman” Post, an Alaskan master marine mammal skeleton articulator, as well as Dr. Tony Rogstad, veterinarian from Chimacum Valley Vet Hospital (who is also a wildlife specialist), and wildlife specialist Michael Etnier, a Bellingham zooarchaeologist specializing in marine mammals.

This is your chance to drop by to ask our experts questions, bring your bones for identification, draw, compare, identify, or simply feast your eyes on the wonderful display of bones from PTMSC’s collections.

Admission is free. Visit the Marine Science Center's site for more information.

Latest Research on Tracking Blue and Humpback Whales

Recent studies are revealing secrets of blue and humpback whale migrations and underwater behavior. Using new tags attached with suction cups, this work is providing a unique view into the underwater lives of these giants – as well as the threats they face. 

John Calambokidis, a research biologist and co-founder of the Cascadia Research Collective will discuss the latest research on whale tracking. In addition to photographs, John’s talk will feature new footage taken from the back of a blue whale.

His presentation will be part of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center's Annual Meeting, which will be held at February 20, at 4pm at the Port Townsend Yacht Club. Admission is free to PTMSC Members, $7 to non-members.

Brad Matsen Speaks About Jacques Cousteau

Twenty years ago, maritime writer Brad Matsen hung out at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, where he became acquainted with the Pacific spiny lumpsucker, one of the Center’s smallest attractions. That visit turned into “Shocking Fish Tales,” a classic little book about the wonders of the Northwest marine environment. Since then, Matsen has become a celebrated maritime writer, with books on salty topics ranging from commercial fishing to the sinking of the Titanic.

On February 13 at 4:30pm, Matsen will read from his new book: Jacques Cousteau: The Sea King - a highly-praised biography of the famous ocean naturalist. Matsen will be available for a book signing following the presentation.

When: February 13, 2010 4:30 pm
Where: Northwest Maritime Center, Maritime Heritage Building
Admission: $10, $7 for PTMSC and NWMC members. To register, call 385.5582 ext. 104.

Grunt Sculpins at Port Townsend Marine Science Center

If you want to stay on top of happenings over at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, consider subscribing to the Port Townsend Marine Science Center Blog.

Focusing especially on the science that takes place at the Center, the blog is a great resource for students of marine science as well as those of us just wishing to know a bit more about the world around us.

Their current post focuses on the Grunt Sculpin. It's not a band...it's a fish...and eggs are hatching right now.

Current Research On The Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales

Thursday, November 12, 7 pm
Port Townsend Marine Science Center's Natural History Exhibit 

Southern resident killer whales experienced a rapid decline in the mid-1990’s and were listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act in 2005. Today they number approximately 93 individuals. To protect and conserve this small population, several groups are conducting field research to answer key questions related to their available food, effects of nearby vessels, toxic contamination and winter habitat. This talk will review the methods used to answer these questions and the progress made to date by NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center.

Candice Emmons joined the marine mammal program at NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center in 2006, where she works on a variety of projects including winter habitat use, acoustic impacts, and foraging ecology of southern resident killer whales. Admission: Members $5/ Non-members $7

An Evening with Tony Angell

Thursday, October 22, 2009, 7 pm in the Natural History Exhibit.

People For Puget Sound, in association with the Marine Science Center and others, presents artist and naturalist Tony Angell in readings from his new book that captures his art and the natural history of Puget Sound.

The readings are free and open to the public. Copies of Puget Sound Through an Artist’s Eye will be available for $35 plus sales tax and will be signed by the author.

Proceeds from sale of the book directly benefit People For Puget Sound's community education programs.
Tony Angell Book Events

A Sea Change: Imagine a World without Fish

Wednesday, September 2, Wheeler Theatre 7 pm

The first documentary about ocean acidification, directed by Barbara Ettinger and co-produced by Sven Huseby of Niijii Films. Chock full of scientific information, the feature-length film is also a beautiful paen to the ocean world and an intimate story of a Norwegian-American family whose heritage is bound up with the sea. Viewing to be followed by a Q & A session with the Director and Protagonist. Admission: $12 non-members, $10 members, $5 youth.

 

 

 

Ocean Geoengineering and Climate Change

Thursday, August 13
7 pm in the NHE

Richard A. Jahnke Professor Emeritus, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

An update on a few of the critical measures of oceanic climate change. Admission: Members $5/ Non-members $7 

Rick Jahnke's team recovering an instrument in the western equatorial Pacific.

Summer Kick-off

June 20th         Summer kick-off Free Admission
                        Exhibits open 11 am - 4 pm     
1-4 pm             Face painting and creating squid cookies
4 pm                Presentation: Tsunamis in Puget Sound
NOAA's Chris Moore will present an overview of how tsunamis are generated, the physics of ocean waves, and the history of past tsunamis. He will share the results of a study done in Puget Sound, and describe a demonstration of the forecast system being developed at NOAA National Center for Tsunami Research for implementation at NOAA's National Tsunami Warning Centers. Talk will begin in the Natural History Exhibit at 4 pm and is free.

June 21st         Father's Day: All Dads Free, All Day

June is Orca Month

Sunday, June 7: All About Orcas
Saturday, June 13: Listening for Orcas
Sunday, June 21: All About Orcas
Saturday, June 27: Listening for Orcas

All About Orcas (NHE) 2:30 pm
Do orcas have family structures?  What do they eat, and how do they find food in the vast ocean?  Where do they travel throughout the year?  Dive into this topic and discover the differences between transients and residents, and how scientists can tell based on diet, social interaction, and even dialect. 

Listening for Orcas (ME) 2:30 pm
What do orcas sound like and how do their vocalizations travel underwater?  Is the ocean a loud environment?  Find out the answers to these questions and more in this Orca Month program.  Get a chance to learn about how scientists study orcas by listening to our active hydrophone research station and get more information on how you can listen for orcas from your home computer.