The Marine Science Institute (MSI) is a nonprofit organization focusing on
marine science
Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dyna ...
research and education. MSI was founded in 1970
and currently is situated in
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a city on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California's Bay Area, approximately south of San Francisco, and northwest of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people to being a ...
, adjacent to the
Port of Redwood City
The Port of Redwood City is a marine freight terminal on the western side of the southern San Francisco Bay, on the West Coast of the United States. This marine terminal is situated within the city of Redwood City, California. The port was d ...
.
In the
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area G ...
MSI has a mission driving marine education for schoolchildren and continues to receive grants to supplement their donations.
Education and research
The Marine Science Institute offers tours of the Bay in
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes (; grc-gre, Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου, ''Antiókheia hē epì Oróntou'', Learned ; also Syrian Antioch) grc-koi, Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου; or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπ ...
in the January and February months, and the rest of the time based out of Redwood City at their main location and research station along the banks of
Redwood Creek. The institute allows students at schools around the bay to observe and interact with the natural environment. Marine life is often collected, measured for size, and documented to add to a database to continually monitor conditions and overall health within the bay. MSI also trains teachers in integrating technology and science into their own curriculums. The Marine Science Institute also hosts an
Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 b ...
celebration annually. Other events organized by MSI include coastal hikes, cleanups, tide walks, and voyages for the general public.
''Robert G. Brownlee''
The by
research vessel
A research vessel (RV or R/V) is a ship or boat designed, modified, or equipped to carry out research at sea. Research vessels carry out a number of roles. Some of these roles can be combined into a single vessel but others require a dedicate ...
built to satisfy the needs of MSI was named after
Robert Brownlee whose foundation donated funds for the vessel. Construction of the steel vessel with hull depth of , hull 474, was completed by the Marco Shipyards in
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region o ...
in 1998. Original specifications for the craft had a propulsion system, that could reach 12
knots
A knot is a fastening in rope or interwoven lines.
Knot may also refer to:
Places
* Knot, Nancowry, a village in India
Archaeology
* Knot of Isis (tyet), symbol of welfare/life.
* Minoan snake goddess figurines#Sacral knot
Arts, entertainme ...
, comprising two propellers driven by a pair of 250
horsepower
Horsepower (hp) is a unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done, usually in reference to the output of engines or motors. There are many different standards and types of horsepower. Two common definitions used today are t ...
Cummins diesels. The vessel, which can fit up to 70 students, has facilities for several science activities including studying
plankton
Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms found in water (or air) that are unable to propel themselves against a current (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are called plankters. In the ocean, they provide a cruc ...
and fish with holding tanks below deck as well as running
hydrology
Hydrology () is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and management of water on Earth and other planets, including the water cycle, water resources, and environmental watershed sustainability. A practitioner of hydrology is call ...
tests.
Following the
''Cosco Busan'' oil spill the vessel was used to take children out showing the damage the
Bay Bridge suffered firsthand as well as take comparative data on how the spill affected marine life in the area.
Gallery
See also
*
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (DESFBNWR) is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in the southern part of San Francisco Bay, California. The Refuge headquarters and visitor center is located in the Baylands dist ...
*
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a large tidal estuary in the U.S. state of California, and gives its name to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is dominated by the big cities of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland.
San Francisco Bay drains water f ...
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Oceanographic organizations
Biological research institutes in the United States
Redwood City, California
Science and technology in the San Francisco Bay Area
Non-profit organizations based in the San Francisco Bay Area