Welcome to the home of the Oregon Marine Scientist and Educator Alliance or ORSEA for short. ORSEA connects educators and marine researchers around issues of ocean ecology, career-connected learning, and effective science communication practices. 

Our Vision for the Future

  1. Teachers and students seeking marine research, understanding, and career-connected learning,
  2. Marine scientists engaged as partners and broadening their impact,
  3. Expanded networks and community commitment to protection and restoration of coastal and marine environments.

August Kick Off

At the ORSEA kick-off August 20-22, 2019, eight marine scientists and 16 Oregon math/science educators shared information about their research and classrooms, formed curriculum teams, engaged in hands-on research activities, and began co-planning their year - which will include marine scientist classroom visits and data support for the teachers and science communication outreach support for participating researchers.  Teams will be meeting throughout the year for online Community of Practice sessions from 7-8pm on the following dates:

  • October 10, 2019: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
  • November 14, 2019: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
  • January 16, 2020: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
  • February 20, 2020: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
  • April 16, 2020: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
  • May 15 - CAPSTONE EVENT

Anchoring Phenomena

SEA PICKLES: Why are "sea pickles" suddenly occurring in high numbers off the Oregon coast?

BASKET STAR: What is this thing? Is it alive? Is it a plant or animal?

COMMON MURRE: Why do murre eggs look the way they do?

SEAGRASS: Seagrasses have declined in South Slough over recent time. Could seagrass wasting disease be the culprit?

PLANKTON POPULATIONS: What happens to our local ecosystem if the copepod species richness increases? decreases?

MARINE RESERVES: How do they work? Who benefits?


SELECTIVE PALATES AND KILLER APETITES: Can we reverse the decline of southern resident killer whale numbers? How?

HUMPBACK WHALES: Three different populations of humpback whales travel through the Oregon Coast, some to feed and others as part of their migration. Each of these populations begins their migration from a different breeding ground. Each of these populations currently exists in numbers designated at various levels of risk for continued existence on our planet. Members of the populations mix to an unknown degree when migrating and feeding which complicates management. How should we manage these whales? Which whale population should be prioritized first?