“The study, led by Oregon Sea Grant Extension’s invasive species expert Sam Chan, was presented at this week’s national meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Portland.‘Live organisms are a critical element for learning and we don’t want to imply that they should not be used in the classroom,’ said Chan. ‘But some of our schools – and the biological supply houses that provide their organisms – are creating a potential new pathway for non-native species to become invasive.’”
Category:
Classroom specimens require caution and care to prevent becoming invasives
August 14th, 2012 by Irene MilesStudents Learn about Coastal Issues in the Pacific Northwest from Sea Grant Specialists
August 3rd, 2012 by Irene MilesBill Hanshumaker of the Hatfield Marine Science Center and Oregon Sea Grant explains aquaculture research being conducted at the facility. |
Each year, natural resource students from Purdue University, North Carolina State University, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences come together to learn about sustainable use of natural resources in some part of the world. In July 2012, the course took place in the Pacific Northwest. Students visited old-growth forests, wildlife refuges, urban areas and more, learning about the political, social and economic concerns that factor into decision-making and development in the region.
Oregon Sea Grant agent Jeff Feldner discusses commercial fishing during a “dock walk.” |
IISG’s Carolyn Foley shares more about the course: “Amidst glorious sunshine, students learned about the strong fishing trade in Newport, OR, including oyster farming. They asked questions about how these trades are regulated in the Pacific Northwest, and what impacts their activities have on the surrounding community and natural resource use. They were also able to visit the Hatfield Marine Science Center and gain a healthy overview of the major issues affecting coastal resources in Oregon and surrounding states, including the development of technology to harness wave energy, impacts of naturally-occurring low-oxygen conditions, and effects of development on local wildlife populations. Some students even visited a large dock (~66’ x 19’ x 7’) that was ripped from its pilings in Misawa, Japan during the 2011 tsunami which crossed more than 11,000 km of Pacific Ocean and landed near Newport in early June, bringing with it more than 80 non-native, potentially invasive species of algae, snails, clams, and other life forms.”
Students from the course gather in front of the tsunami-generated floating dock that washed ashore in early June 2012. Researchers have identified 92+ species that survived the trans-Pacific voyage. |
For more about some of IISG’s education initiatives, visit our education website. College and graduate students are also encouraged to contact their departments for information on similar courses and opportunities.
*Photos courtesy of George Hess with North Carolina State University
Recent News
- New aquaponics curriculum brings STEM and sustainable agriculture to the classroom
- Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant welcomes new coastal engineering and community resilience specialist
- Meet our Grad Student Scholars: Xiaoli Xing
- IISG accepting applications for 2025 Graduate Scholars
- Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant communications coordinator joins the team
IISG Instagram
Meet IISG grad student scholar, Xiaoli Xiong! Xiaoli is a Ph.D. student in the School of Construction Management Technology at Purdue University and a recipient of the Ross Fellowship. He works under the guidance of Chengcheng Tao in the Sustainable Infrastructure and Manufacturing Lab. Xiaoli’s research focuses on the sustainable manufacturing of cement and concrete materials. Xiaoli’s IISG project investigates the feasibility of incorporating dredged sediments from Lake Michigan into cement mortar, aiming to use waste materials to develop more environmentally friendly cementitious products.
Read more about Xiaola’s work at the link in bio.

Valentine’s Day is almost here, and we’ve got you covered! Share our valentine with the one who makes your heart buoyant! 💌
And catch up on all the latest IISG news at the link in bio.

Join us in welcoming IISG’s new coastal engineering and community resilience specialist, Sarah Peterson! Sarah’s chief responsibility will be to develop a coastal resilience program along the southern Lake Michigan shoreline.
Read more about Sarah and her work at the link in bio.

Attention educators! Only 2 days left to apply!
Got summer plans? The Shipboard Science Workshop takes place each year on one of the Great Lakes, and 2025 is Lake Michigan’s turn! Take advantage of this opportunity to work alongside scientists and fellow-educators aboard the EPA R/V Lake Guardian to engage in real-world research and data collection, enhance your skills, and create innovative lessons.
5-12th grade formal and informal educators from all Great Lakes states are invited to apply for this FREE shipboard workshop sponsored by the EPA Great Lakes National Program Office and facilitated by Great Lakes Sea Grant Network educators
Workshop dates: July 7-13, 2025
Application deadline: Feb. 10.
Learn more at the link in bio.

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