NOAA Open House
Friday, June 8, 2018
12:00 pm to 6:30 pm
7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
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Free and open to the public
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No reservations required
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Public parking available
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King County Metro Route 62 comes directly on site
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A government-issued photo ID is required for all adults
Explore your world and learn more about how NOAA - the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - works to understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment to help protect people and property and to conserve and manage coastal and marine resources.
Join us at the Western Regional Center in Seattle, Washington to celebrate World Oceans Day with a series of free activities, including engaging science presentations and panels, interactive exhibits and tours. This event is perfect for the whole family. (Adults – please remember to bring your photo IDs to gain access to the campus).
You will have the opportunity to learn more about a variety of NOAA programs, including the National Weather Service; NOAA Research’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory; National Marine Fisheries Service including the West Coast Region, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and Northwest Fisheries Science Center; National Ocean Service’s Office of Response and Restoration; NOAA Tides and Currents; NOAA Corps; and many more!
What to See and Do:
- Experience an augmented reality sandbox to learn more about the ocean landscape
- See the inside of a traveling tide station maintenance van
- Join Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and explore a life-sized walk-inside model of "Big Mama" the humpback whale!
- Learn why estuaries are such a critical habitat.
- Discover successful habitat restoration projects along the shore of Lake Washington
- View samples of marine debris, watch Trash Talk videos, and spin the marine debris wheel of questions.
- Learn about food webs through live viewing of phytoplankton
- Explore NOAA’s internships, scholarships, summer camps, and STEM careers
- Participate in Steller Watch and help classify photos of Steller Sea Lions.
- Challenge your sensory skills at the Seafood Inspection booth. Spin the sensory wheel and discovery various odor associated with various quality of seafood. Learn how to use your olfactory and be an expert in no time.
- Interact with oceanographers and see what technologies they use to study the ocean
- Stroll through the NOAA Art Walk along the Lake Washington shoreline and see the famous Sound Garden.
- Learn more about fisheries research conducted in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
- Build and test your own buoy with NANOOS.
- Meet NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Officers.
- Bring a current resume and meet with a NOAA workforce management specialist.
- Get the latest in Puget Sound tsunami news, learn ways to reduce boating oil spills this summer, and play the marine wheel of fortune!
- Meet NOAA Corps Officers, one of seven federal uniformed services of the United States, who serve on the sea, on land, and in the air to support NOAA's environmental science and stewardship mission.
- Explore the ocean through videos from the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer
- Learn about life on a commercial fishing vessel and what a Fisheries Observer does. Enjoy a hands-on learning experience with fish caught in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Participate in a timed survival suit donning race and see if you have what it takes to be a Fisheries Observer.
- Watch NOAA Films, including the new Women in the NOAA Corps Documentary
- Go on behind the scenes tours with NOAA staff
- View art submitted by K-12 students
- Eat a delicious lunch or late lunch from the food trucks that will be on campus!**
- From 12:00 - 3:00 pm
- From 3:00 - 6:30 pm
Tours:
Tours will be filled on a first come, first serve basis and will require people to line up at least 30 minutes prior to tour start time to get a ticket to join the tour. No registration required. The ticket line will open an hour before the tour and tickets will be handed out 30 minutes before the tour starts. Tour times will be available on-site and run throughout the day about once an hour. Last tours leave at 5:30 or 5:45 pm.
Guided tours include:
- OCEAN ENGINEERING – Step into NOAA’s engineering workspace where engineers are hard at work building and testing new technology to collect data from our oceans. See the evolution of tsunami sensing moorings and new innovative technologies used to study the ocean. Tour is 40-50 minutes in length.
- MARINE MAMMALS - This tour includes rare access to the NOAA marine mammal research bone collection that includes orca skulls and a narwhal tusk! Tour is 40-50 minutes in length.
- SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES - Take a tour of NOAA Fisheries Net Loft where you will see how NOAA manages fisheries that produce sustainable seafood. Tour is 40-50 minutes in length.
- GUIDED ART WALK - Explore and learn the history of the six art sculptures located across the campus designed to reflect NOAA’s work in the oceans and atmosphere by incorporating wind, sound and water. Walk the campus grounds with a NOAA staff and learn how NOAA works to restore coastal and riparian habitats within our region. Tour is approximately a mile walking tour and will take 1 - 1.5 hours. This tour can also be done as self-guided.
NOAA Auditorium:
Please join us in the NOAA Auditorium (Building 9) for a series of free videos, presentations, and talks.
Time |
Event |
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| 12:00 pm | Tri-Ship Connection with E/V Nautilus, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and R/V Falkor : Explore more this World Oceans Day! Join the Nautilus team as we connect with our fellow vessels dedicated to exploring unknown depths of our planet. Three ships of exploration, Exploration Vessel Nautilus, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, and Research Vessel Falkor will connect in this third annual Tri-Ship Connection hosted by the Inner Space Center. We'll chat about our latest discoveries, future expedition plans--and answer your questions about ocean exploration! |
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm |
Come learn more about NOAA, what marine debris is, what NOAA’s marine debris is doing to address the issue, what actions you can take and research on the impacts of plastics in marine mussels.
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| 2:45 pm | Watch the Women of the NOAA Corps: Reflections from Sea and Sky, a documentary that highlights the important role women play in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Join us after the documentary for a Q&A with panelists, including Pam Chelgren-Koterba, the first woman in the NOAA Corps. |
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
Come learn more about NOAA, what marine debris is, what NOAA’s marine debris is doing to address the issue, what actions you can take and research on the impacts of plastics in marine mussels.
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| 5:00 pm | NOAA Films |
| 6:00 pm | Art Contest Awards. Join artist Lindsay Holladay of Web & Moss Studio** for an uplifting talk about how art can advance conservation and recovery efforts. Afterwards, you will be treated to incredible artwork from our talented K-12 art contest awardees. |
NOAA WRC Open House Contact Information
For the latest information about the NOAA Open House check this website. Questions about the NOAA Open House may be emailed to oar.pmel.openhouse@noaa.gov or call 206-526-6810.
** The appearance of external links on this Web site does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of external Web sites or the information, products, or services contained therein.