MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE
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Mission Statement
To inspire environmental stewardship through hands-on learning and exploration of San Francisco Bay ecosystems.
About This Cause
MSI delivers engaging, interactive Discover Our Bay environmental science education led by highly-qualified marine science teachers. We serve students of all economic backgrounds with hands-on access to the local marine ecosystems: San Francisco Bay or Sacramento Delta voyages aboard our 90-foot research vessel, the Robert G. Brownlee, classroom visits by our traveling aquarium, and field trips to the Pacific coast. MSI’s 2,000-square-foot Discovery Lab is where we temporarily house the marine animals that are so essential to our educational programs. To keep over 70 animals healthy and safe in a 2,600-gallon Bay system and 1,800-gallon Ocean system is crucial to our work in engaging students of all ages and inspiring an interest in marine science. At least 90% of students participating in our programs have direct contact with marine animals in our aquariums. Discover Our Bay provides school with a range of ship and land-based hands-on science programs in which each student sees, touches, and discusses marine animals from our Bay and coastal ecosystems. MSI Instructors leverage students’ intense fascination with sharks and all things marine to build foundational science skills at all grade levels. We constantly endeavor to create a program experience that satisfies teachers’ specific educational requirements. Created and refined with teacher input, we offer the following seven services: 1. Discovery Voyages (for grades 4 and up) are 4-hour explorations of the San Francisco Bay on board our 90-foot research vessel, the Robert G. Brownlee. Students rotate through four stations where they use marine research equipment to explore and learn at four stations: a. Ichthyology – students work as a group to catch, observe and identify up to 44 different species of fish and learn about their adaptations. b. Plankton – students gather samples of drifting microscopic plants and animals, the base of the marine food chain, to view and identify on video-microscopes. c. Hydrology – students test samples of bay water for temperature, density, and salinity to understand how ocean salt water and fresh water combine to create an estuarine environment. d. Benthic Organisms – students explore bay mud samples to learn the role of plants and invertebrate animals that live in or on the bottom of the bay. Discovery Voyagers can choose among our standard program in the south or central San Francisco Bay, the Delta habitat, or a special two-part Biomimicry program in which students learn the principles of bio-inspired design. 2. Inland Voyages (for grades pre-kindergarten through 12) deliver the Pacific Ocean and Bay to the classroom, bringing sharks, fish, crabs, and other live marine animals to students at their school or community-based organization, such as a scout group or after-school program. Through hands-on investigation and cooperative learning activities, elementary and secondary students learn about the marine environments of either the San Francisco Estuary or the Pacific Ocean. 3. Shoreside Programs (for grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade) are 2 to 3-hour programs conducted at MSI’s oyster shell beach, pier, and Discovery Lab on the bayfront in Redwood City. Students work at two to four stations to study fish, benthic invertebrates, plankton, hydrology (water chemistry), sharks, and marine mammals. They use professional-grade oceanographic equipment to take mud grabs, “seine” fish (collect by net), and test water and plankton samples. Ocean Labs (for grades 4 and up) are a 2½ hour Shoreside program that focuses on the rocky Pacific Coast, as opposed to the estuarine ecosystem of the Bay. Students handle live animals and use microscopes, keys, and the scientific method to examine five different phyla of tidepool invertebrates and fish, their interrelationships, and their ecology. In 2012-2013, we will experiment bringing this intensive program to schools for the first time. 4. Tidepool Excursions (for grades 3 and up) are a 2½ hour hands-on exploration of the wet and rocky terrain and inhabitants of the Pillar Point tidepools in Half Moon Bay. 5. Marsh and Beach Explorations (for grades 3 and up) are 2½ hour hands-on explorations of sandy beach, and marsh and mudflat ecology at Pescadero State Beach. 6. Canoes in Sloughs (for grades 4 and up) is a canoe-based wetland ecosystem expedition that we acquired from Save the Bay in 2010. In this program, young people learn to work together to navigate a small marine vessel, connect to the Bay ecosystem, and learn how human activities impact fish, invertebrate, and bird habitat, in the context of Bair Island Ecological Preserve. 7. Scientific Method Combo (new in 2012-13; for grades 4 and up) steps students and their teachers through the entire cycle of the scientific method in a three program series that includes “real-world” research experience in the field. Students gather wildlife monitoring data in one of three habitats: San Francisco Bay; San Mateo coast sandy beach; or San Mateo coast tidepools. Family-Based Environmental Exploration for Students of all Ages: The next largest constituency MSI serves is families and individuals who are looking to deepen their understanding of environmental issues. We do this through our Family Membership Program, Ecotours on our ship, Aquarium Spotlight (open “aquarium” events at MSI), our annual Earth Day on the Bay celebration, MSI’s Volunteering Program, Birthday Parties, and outreach activities in the community. Summer Marine Camp and After-School Programs for K-12: An additional 1,200 K-12 students, primarily from San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, delve deeper into marine science in our 1-week Summer Marine Camp program or through after-school programs.