Oregon State University announces marine science media fellows

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University has named 12 leading regional, national and international journalists as its 2018 marine science media fellows.

The journalists will spend July 22 to 25 at Oregon State’s main campus in Corvallis and at its Hatfield Marine Science Center in the Oregon coast city of Newport. They will be immersed in the marine science research that makes Oregon State the No. 3 oceanography program in the world, according to the Center for World University Rankings.

The Oregon State Marine Science Media Fellowship covers topics including wave energy; rising sea levels; wild versus hatchery raised fish; tsunamis; ocean acidification; whale monitoring; and aquaculture.

Highlights include: touring the world’s largest tsunami simulation basin; seeing how Oregon State researchers build and maintain underwater ocean gliders and buoys that monitor ocean conditions; visiting one of the world’s largest repositories of ocean sediment cores; touring a fish hatchery; and spending time on the ocean with Oregon State scientists.

The journalists are:

• Jes Burns, multimedia journalist, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Medford, Oregon;
• Madison Dapcevich, writer, IFLScience, San Francisco;
• Gloria Dickie, freelance science and environmental journalist, Victoria, British Columbia;
• Sandi Doughton, science reporter, Seattle Times, Seattle;
• Becky Ferreira, freelance writer, contributor to Motherboard/VICE, Ithaca, New York;
• Virginia Gewin, freelance science journalist, Portland, Oregon;
• Sarah Gibbens, writer, National Geographic, Washington, D.C.;
• Tracy Loew, science and environment reporter, Statesman-Journal, Salem, Oregon;
• Christie Taylor, producer, Science Friday, New York City;
• Maya Wei-Haas, science writer, National Geographic, Washington, D.C.;
• Kale Williams, environment reporter, The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon; and
• Kate Wheeling, staff writer, Pacific Standard, Santa Barbara, California.

The fellowship showcases Oregon State’s leadership, vision and research in marine studies. During their stay, journalists will receive first-hand exposure to the university’s far-reaching marine science research and teaching, including its recently launched Marine Studies Initiative. They will have the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with many Oregon State scientists.