OSU at the Oregon Coast

Oregon stands out for its mixture of unparalleled access to coastal forests, bays, rocky headlands, beaches and ocean. At the confluence of the continent and sea, the coast is a source of inspiration, reflection, and repose. Across the university, faculty and students come to the coast for research, field and lab courses, and club and organization activities. Please join us and experience the Oregon Coast in your own way! 

Locations on the Coast

Located in Newport, Oregon, Hatfield Marine Science Center is Oregon State University's marine lab serving as a base for distinguished oceanographic research and education, providing academic programs and opportunities for students in secondary and post-secondary education. The campus also hosts six state and federal agencies on the 49-acre campus. It is home to the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building, designed to help develop a vibrant learning community for students, faculty, and partners to convene on ocean issues. This unique building will aid students, professionals, and lifelong learners in leadership, education, and workforce preparation by giving individuals the experience and training to navigate a wide spectrum of opportunities. Hatfield Marine Science Center also has many research labs where students can volunteer or work. Contact Hatfield Marine Science Center or MACO to connect with these opportunities.

South of Cape Blanco on the windswept southern coast of Oregon is an OSU research and education field station. The Port Orford Field Station is a hub that supports student learning, scientific research, community priorities, and economic opportunities, and fosters coastal stewardship and sustainability by supporting access to the region’s unique marine and terrestrial ecosystem.

The OSU Seafood Research & Education Center is part of the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station with locations in Newport and Astoria. Also affiliated with the OSU Department of Food Science & Technology. The OSU Seafood Research and Education Center aims to improve seafood through research and development, extension service to both the fishing and seafood processing industry, and graduate student research, training, and instruction. 

As part of the Division of Extension and Engagement, OSU Extension Services works with communities throughout Oregon to support lifelong learning and co-create innovative solutions to address local challenges. OSU Extension Services partners with people in every county and helps them thrive every day — just as they have done for more than 100 years — with a focus on:

  • Healthy communities and economies
  • Resilient and productive forests and natural ecosystems
  • Sustainable agriculture, food systems, and gardening
  • Thriving youth, individuals, and families

Be sure to check out coastal OSU Extension Services to see how you can get involved!

Established at Oregon State University in 1971 as one of the first four Sea Grant College Programs designated in the nation, Oregon Sea Grant is now one of 34 programs within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sea Grant College Program. Sea Grant addresses regionally and nationally strategic issues through an integrated program of competitive, rigorously reviewed research, extension services and projects, and public education. They support dynamic, inventive, and flexible approaches to meet the needs of communities in changing natural and social environments.

Sea Grant has four focus areas:

  • Environmental literacy and workforce development
  • Healthy coastal ecosystems
  • Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
  • Resilient communities and economies

COMES is Oregon's Marine Experiment Station, collaborating with the fishing and seafood industry, agencies, and local maritime communities as the state’s primary research engine supporting use and conservation of marine resources. Their key focus areas include fishery biology and ecology, aquaculture, genomics, seafood science and technology, seafood marketing, resource and environmental economics, ecotoxicology and environmental stress, and the effects of sharks on marine environments.

Main Campus - Corvallis

Coming soon! The Gaulke Center for Marine Innovation and Technology aims to emphasize interdisciplinary research, such as oceanography and artificial intelligence, at Oregon State.

The O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory provides outstanding research and testing at the largest nearshore experimental facility at an academic institution in the US. The 61,000 ft2 (5,700 m2) building is situated on the main campus and houses the Large Wave Flume (LWF), Directional Wave Basin (DWB), and 5,400 ft2 (500 m2) of office space for staff, graduate students, visiting researchers, and clients.

The laboratory researches coastal and nearshore processes involving:

  • Wave-structure interaction
  • Nearshore hydrodynamics and sediment transport
  • Marine renewable energy
  • Tsunami and coastal hazards
  • Fixed and floating structures

Across OSU's many Colleges, there are a plethora of labs on the Corvallis campus that focus on marine studies and research. If you are interested in working with a lab on campus, contact them directly or contact MACO for support.

OSU's Research Centers and Institutes focus on taking a transdisciplinary approach to the world's pressing issues and bringing together scientists and researchers from many differing fields to create joint research projects.