welcome to the Marine Mammal Institute

The OSU Marine Mammal Institute integrates research, graduate education, and public outreach to advance our knowledge of marine mammals, train the next generation of professionals, and engage with stakeholders to ensure that these animals and their ecosystems are always healthy.

RESEARCH     EDUCATION     OUTREACH

  • this month's featured story

We Have a Skeleton in Our Closet!

In 2015, a blue whale carcass washed up on an Oregon beach. We immediately went to work to save the skeleton. The bones are now ready for professional cleaning, preservation, and display. Once finished, the skeleton will be on permanent display at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.
Pictured: Dinosaur Valley Studios President Frank Hadfield measures the attachment point for humpback whale rib armatures.

Help Us Build a Whale

Whale Habitat, Ecology, & Telemetry Laboratory

The Whale Habitat, Ecology, and Telemetry Laboratory develops tag technology, advances ecology, and informs conservation of the largest animals on earth.

Cetacean Conservation and Genomics Laboratory

The Cetacean Conservation and Genomics Laboratory explores the genomes of whales and dolphins to understand the past, assess the present, and conserve the future.

Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Laboratory

The Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Laboratory focuses on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of marine megafauna including cetaceans, pinnipeds, seabirds, and sharks.

Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network

The Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network documents occurrences and investigates the causes of marine mammal strandings in Oregon. Learn what to do if you find a marine mammal ashore.

Marine Mammal Bioacoustics and Ecology Laboratory

The Marine Mammal Bioacoustics and Ecology Laboratory uses passive acoustic monitoring to study the underwater soundscape around the globe.

Laboratory for Animal Behavioral Interaction Research in the Ocean

The Laboratory for Animal Behavioral Interaction Research in the Ocean integrates animal behavior, ecology, and human dimensions.