October 11, 2017

“The Blob” with Dr. Rob

This new film explores “The Blob,” a warm water anomaly that started in the Gulf of Alaska and later spread up and down the coast of […]
September 22, 2017

Copper River Stewardship Lessons in Haiku

By Robin Mayo, for The Cordova Times As the school year begins, Copper River Stewardship Program participants are completing their final projects inspired by their summer […]
August 30, 2017

Discover Cordova: Tide Pooling

Written by Alex Smith, Education Intern On June 30, local Cordova families and visiting friends took to the gravelly shores of Orca Beach to try their […]
June 21, 2017

Copper River Salmon & Climate Change

Prince William Sound Science Center researchers work on the front lines of climate change to address the most pressing salmon issues of our time.   Related […]
June 7, 2017

2016 ANNUAL REPORT: RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, RESILIENT PLANET

OIL SPILLS. EARTHQUAKES. CLIMATE CHANGE. MELTING GLACIERS. FIRES. ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS. VANISHED FISHERIES. We’ve been through a lot here amongst the world’s richest waters. Yet, through generations, […]
June 6, 2017

Discovering Cordova

  Discover Cordova-Connecting kids to their natural environment with exploration, science, and fun. Discover Cordova, a Prince William Sound Science Center educational program, is designed to […]
April 18, 2017

Lingering Oil Intertidal Zone download

Earth Day is on April 22, 2017, which coincides with the Science Center’s 28th anniversary. We wanted to highlight and share this drawing that research assistant, […]
March 22, 2017

Tsunami Times

By Stefanie Tschappat A Tsunami is defined as, “an arrival or occurrence of something in overwhelming quantities or amounts.” At this year’s, National Ocean Sciences Bowl, regionally […]
March 10, 2017

Seeking adventurous youth for the 2017 Copper River Stewardship Program

By Lauren Bien, for The Cordova Times The Copper River Watershed: one of the last remaining intact watersheds in North America, 26,500 square miles of diverse […]
February 6, 2017

The Next Generation, A Changing World

We’re grateful. In these uncertain times, so many of you have showed up recently to support our work in the world’s richest waters. Thank you. Generating […]
October 31, 2016

Forage Fish Surveys

The Herring Research and Monitoring program is conducting aerial surveys during June and July for forage fish in Prince William Sound.  The focus of the June […]
October 11, 2016

New Education Coordinator Arrives in Cordova

We are please to announce that Lauren Bien joined our staff in August 2015. She has a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from Wittenberg University in […]
August 25, 2016

Alaska Bird Conference in Cordova

Registration in now open for the Alaska Bird Conference! The first Alaska Bird Conference was held in 1985, in Anchorage. It grew from the often-expressed need […]
August 22, 2016

Russian Biologist ‘On Exchange’ In Prince William Sound

Originally published in the 9/5/16 edition of The Cordova Times. When asked about the similarities between Cordova and her home in Russia, she laughed as she […]
August 9, 2016

Seabirds Bring Scientists Together

In explaining the importance of this project, Schaefer says that “monitoring seabirds tells something about what’s happening in the ocean.” Scientists often use indicator species as […]
August 1, 2016

Our 2016 Photo Contest Is Here

We’re excited to announce that today kickstarts our 2016 Photo Contest, which will run from August 1st-31st! The Prince William Sound Science Center is committed to […]
July 25, 2016

‘Discover Cordova’ Series- A Summer Success

When’s the last time you went on a safari, searching for wildlife on a miniature scale? If you participated in our ‘Bug Safari’ event, it would […]
July 21, 2016

NYC Photography Students Learn from Science Center Researchers

From the sky scrapers of New York City to the mountain-scraping glaciers of Alaska, a visiting class of budding photographers recently joined Science Center researchers on […]
July 19, 2016

Students Become Stewards of Copper River Watershed

An epic journey ended on the banks of the Copper River earlier this month. Thirteen high school students and ten adults completed a ten-day adventure from […]
July 14, 2016

Rasmuson Foundation Returns to Cordova

At the end of June, staff and board members of the Rasmuson Foundation visited the Prince William Sound Science Center to try their hands at research […]
July 1, 2016

Photos and Sounds from Our Underwater Robot

In the darkest hour of the night, it uses a 3mm-wide lifeline to climb about 200 feet toward the surface of Prince William Sound. After it […]
May 27, 2016

Oil Spills: A Cautionary Tale

The Prince William Sound Science Center has been running Discovery Room programs in the elementary school for more than 20 years. Currently, we work with grades 4th […]
May 5, 2016

2017 Lower Copper River Sonar Station Fish Passage Counts

Fish passage summaries: Daily Counts of Salmon Passage Hourly Counts of Salmon Passage *Note: Some browsers display a cached version of the file that is not up […]
April 12, 2016

Anniversary Open House

Join us for an OPEN HOUSE, celebrating our 27th anniversary! Friday, April 22, 2016 4:00-6:00 PM At the Science Center, 300 Breakwater Avenue Meet our board of directors […]
September 24, 2015

Dessert Dash 2015

A sweet autumnal event Saturday, October 24 7:00-8:30 PM Pioneer Igloo FREE ENTRY! This is an opportunity you will not want to miss! Join us for […]
August 12, 2015

PWSSC to expand nutrient analysis capabilities

With partial support from the Rasmuson Foundation, the PWS Science Center will be purchasing a Seal Analytical AutoAnalyzer3 (AA3) in autumn 2015. The AA3 is an […]
August 12, 2015

PWSSC visits Kodiak and St. Paul

In May two of our education staff members visited schools in Kodiak and St. Paul, sharing presentations with kids from 3rd through 12th grade on oil […]
July 31, 2015

Gull Study

Biologists from the PWSSC and Tufts University are working to better understand how the distribution of gulls changes in response to salmon processing. Gulls are captured near […]
July 24, 2015

New faces at the Science Center

Julia McMahon joined the PWSSC as a full-time research technician in February 2015 and is currently working on two research projects focused on over-wintering energetics of […]
July 20, 2015

Semipalmated Plover Study

In early June, researchers from the Prince William Sound Science Center, in collaboration with Trent University, returned to Egg Island for the sixth time since 2006 […]
June 23, 2015

Salmon rearing at Mt. Eccles Elementary School

On January 6, 2015, three hundred coho salmon eyed-eggs were flown in from the Wally Noerenberg Hatchery for the Mt. Eccles Elementary fresh water salmon tank. […]
May 27, 2015

Hatchery-Wild Ocean Salmon Project is underway!

Click the headline above to access links to project info and up to date catch data. The project description is here: Hatchery Wild Salmon Interaction Study Photos […]
May 22, 2015

PWSSC to test imaging sonars in the Copper River

In-season management of the Copper River salmon fishery is difficult: the Copper River Delta is very braided near the ocean, and the first choke point where […]
May 15, 2015

Delta Sound Connections 2015 is here!

Our 2015 edition is now available online and at various distribution sites throughout southcentral Alaska. Thank you to our many contributors and sponsors for making this […]
May 15, 2015

PWSSC Researcher receives NPRB grant

The North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) has awarded over $415,000 to Dr. Rob Campbell and PWSSC for his project “High frequency observations of the secondary (zooplankton) […]
February 17, 2015

Ocean temperatures set new records

The warm winter Cordova is experiencing is also reflected in the surrounding ocean temperatures. Throughout the Gulf of Alaska water temperatures are setting new records.  The […]
November 3, 2014

Board member transitions in October

We extend extreme gratitude to four board members who termed out in October: Chair Meera Kohler, President and CEO at Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Anchorage. Meera […]
October 31, 2014

Discovery Room kicks off in October

Discovery Room is in full swing at Mt. Eccles Elementary School. Our team of educators visited the fourth through sixth grade classrooms twice this month, each for […]
October 30, 2014

Science Center welcomes new education coordinator

  Last week marked the arrival of Cara Goodwin, our new education coordinator. She drove up from Santa Fe where she had been working for Audubon […]
September 25, 2014

New staff members arrive at the Science Center

Anne Schaefer arrived in Cordova in mid-August to work as an avian research assistant for Dr. Mary Anne Bishop. She has an undergraduate degree from South […]
September 24, 2014

Outreach with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s advisory panel

Tom Barrett, President of the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company knows that to do something well, you have to care about it. With that concept in mind, […]
September 16, 2014

OSRI Research Plan

The Oil Spill Recovery Institute will begin reviewing the mission and goals of OSRI and revising the five-year research plan at the OSRI Advisory Board meeting […]
September 1, 2014

Hatchery-Wild Ocean Test Fishery

The Hatchery-Wild Ocean Test Fishery for 2014 has come to a close. Sampling began May 15th, and finished August 31st. Click the link below to access […]
July 28, 2014

Copper River Stewardship Program

During the first week of July, the Copper River Stewardship Program—comprised of 10 high school students from Cordova and communities further up the Copper River—traveled throughout […]
July 28, 2014

Walt Parker

Alaska legend and former PWSSC board member Walt Parker passed away in June of this year. Walt became a mentor to Science Center founders in the […]
July 28, 2014

Hatchery and Wild Salmon Interactions Study in full swing

In Prince William Sound, both wild and hatchery runs of pink and chum salmon are vital to the economy, with pink salmon being the largest of […]
July 28, 2014

Staff and Board Transitions

This summer has been a time of transition at the Science Center. In May, we bid farewell to Megan and Darren Roberts. Megan arrived in June […]
July 22, 2014

Hatchery-Wild Ocean Test Fishery Catch by Day

Ocean Fishery Catch by Day Graphs The Hatchery-Wild Ocean Test Fishery began May 15, and continues on for the 2014 sampling season. To look at catch data, […]
June 25, 2014

Summer education

This summer the Science Center is partnering with Bidarki Rec Center (operated by the City of Cordova) for our summer programming. A June trip to Alaganik […]
June 25, 2014

Lab gets new calorimeter

In Prince William Sound and throughout the Gulf of Alaska, Pacific herring are a major prey species supporting larger fish, birds, and marine mammals. Herring build […]
June 25, 2014

Forage Fish Surveys

The Herring Research and Monitoring program is conducting aerial surveys during June and July for forage fish in Prince William Sound.  The focus of the June […]
June 17, 2014

Hatchery-Wild Ocean Test Fishery Catch By Day

Ocean Test Fishery started May 15 for the 2014 season. To look at catch data, click the title of this post and follow the link to […]
May 27, 2014

Detecting oil in ice

Dr. Pegau with the Oil Spill Recovery Institute recently was awarded funding from the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers to coordinate a research effort […]
May 27, 2014

“Our Radioactive Ocean” Results

UPDATE: “Our Radioactive Ocean” Results By Caitlin McKinstry On April 14th, PWSSC oceanographers collected the first seawater sample for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute’s (WHOI) “Our Radioactive […]
May 27, 2014

Salmon Fry Released

On the morning of May 20, Cordova’s 5th grade class took a field trip to Fleming Spit to release the salmon fry they have been raising. Eyed eggs […]
May 5, 2014

Alevin Pumping in Prince William Sound

As part of the Hatchery/Wild Salmon Interaction Study, a five person PWSSC crew collected pink alevin samples from the gravel in Stockdale Creek on Montague Island. This was […]
April 22, 2014

Sixth Grade ROV challenge a success!

The sixth grade class had a great time testing their ROVs and completing challenges at the Bob Korn Memorial Pool. We want to say a big […]
April 21, 2014

Satellite Transmitting Cameras Assist Herring Monitoring Program

The Herring Research and Monitoring program led by the PWSSC has recently purchased two satellite transmitting cameras. The purpose of the cameras is to provide an […]
April 21, 2014

The Science Center turns 25

Please join us at our OPEN HOUSE to celebrate our 25th birthday! Tuesday, April 22 From 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Appetizers, cake and refreshments will be […]
March 26, 2014

ROVs and Herring Observations

Recently, scientists from PWSSC and Florida International University conducted a cruise to test the ability of using imaging sonar and camera systems attached to a remotely […]
March 26, 2014

Staff and Board transitions

We extend a huge thank you to the following staff that departed PWSSC after years of hard work and dedication. Good luck in your new endeavors! […]
March 26, 2014

Conductivity Sensor at the Cordova Tide Station

The Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) is always exploring new ways to collect oceanographic information. Working with the Prince William Sound Science Center (PWSSC) and NOAA’s […]
March 25, 2014

Prince William Sound’s 2013 Annual Report

View the 2013 Annual Report > Related posts June 7, 2017 2016 ANNUAL REPORT: RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, RESILIENT PLANETRead More May 5, 2014 Alevin Pumping in Prince […]
March 20, 2014

Lights! Camera! ROVs?!

Are you interested in seeing what the 6th graders are up to in Discovery Room? On Friday, April 11, from 1:30-2:30 PM at the Bob Korn […]
March 20, 2014

Alaska Tsunami Ocean Sciences Bowl

The 17th annual Alaska Tsunami Ocean Sciences Bowl was held February 28–March 2. The Pugnacious Dawgsharks from Cordova traveled to Seward to compete against 17 other […]
March 3, 2014

Science Center to collect seawater for radioactivity monitoring program

PRESS RELEASE By Caitlin McKinstry cmckinstry@pwssc.org   After the March 11, 2011 tsunami that damaged the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, radioactive waste from the plant […]
December 16, 2013

Americorps Member Joins Education Staff

This fall, we welcomed our new Americorps member, Wil Tushaus. Wil is part of our education department, coordinating our Community Lecture Series and teaching in the […]
December 16, 2013

Copper River Nouveau

The 15th annual Copper River Nouveau is scheduled for June 6 and 7, 2014. If the business of the nation permits, Sen. Lisa Murkowski will be […]
December 12, 2013

Drifters make a run south

The Oil Spill Recovery Institute and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation have collaborated on the release of oil spill tracking buoys to better understand potential oil […]
December 2, 2013

6th Grade Discovery Room Update (November)

Mr. Bednarz’s 6th grade class learned about fossil fuels and climate change this month. In our first November session the kids were taught about the formation […]
December 2, 2013

5th Grade Discovery Room Update (November)

This month the 5th grade took another look at chemical properties of our ocean’s water.  They took readings of pH levels, dissolved oxygen, salinity, ammonia, nitrate, […]
December 2, 2013

4th Grade Discovery Room Update (November)

In Mrs. VanDyke’s class the students learned about the effects of glacial silt runoff that flows into Lake Eyak. As a class they looked at several […]
November 14, 2013

6th Grade Discovery Room Update (October)

There was a lot of excitement for Mr. Bednarz’s sixth graders this month! First, they were able to travel to the Science Center to observe ocean […]
November 14, 2013

5th Grade Discovery Room Update (October)

Mrs. Carpenter’s fifth grade class went out into the field this month! The students rotated between a field trip to the Science Center and a lesson […]
November 14, 2013

4th Grade Discovery Room Update (October)

Mrs. Van Dycks’ fourth grade students were able to observe several salmon fry collected from Hippie Cove and a single salmon smolt collected from Odiak Pond. […]
November 14, 2013

6th Grade Discovery Room Update (September)

Sixth graders in Mr. Bednarz’s class have Discovery Room twice every month. In the first meeting we learned about arctic ecosystems and the different plant and […]
November 14, 2013

5th Grade Discovery Room Update (September)

Fifth grade students in Ms. Carpenter’s class were excited to start Discovery Room again this year and were able to remember many of last year’s topics, […]
November 14, 2013

4th Grade Discovery Room Update (September)

The fourth grade students in Mrs. VanDyck’s class learned how to use various tools to monitor changes in freshwater systems (our Eyak Lake). After learning how […]
October 8, 2013

Juvenile herring intensive survey

We started our first round of the juvenile herring intensive survey. The work went well and pictures are now posted on our facebook site. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151725346597523.1073741837.112418342522&type=1 Related […]
October 2, 2013

Discovery Room in DanceTeacher Magazine

Science Center educator Marita Kleissler was recently featured in DanceTeacher Magazine for using dance as a way to teach third graders the water cycle. Kleissler, who […]
October 2, 2013

Laboratory Reconfiguration

By Caitlin McKinstry, Research Assistant As our oceanographic research programs continue to expand in exciting new directions, space in the laboratory at the Science Center has […]
October 2, 2013

Dessert Dash membership event

Got a sweet tooth? Then join us for the DESSERT DASH! Saturday, October 26 | 7:00 – 8:30 PM | Mt. Eccles Elementary Commons A buffet of decadent desserts […]
September 17, 2013

Sampling oiled sediments

  An Oil Spill Recovery Institute-sponsored graduate student recently got her first exposure to the challenges of conducting fieldwork in Prince William Sound.  Lindsey Saum, a […]
August 8, 2013

PWSSC Hatchery-Wild Salmon Project Update

Related posts July 24, 2013 PWSSC Hatchery-Wild Salmon Ocean Test Fishery UpdateRead More July 10, 2013 PWSSC Hatchery-Wild Salmon Project UpdateRead More May 27, 2015 Hatchery-Wild […]
July 29, 2013

Tracking Black Turnstones

By Jessica Stocking, Avian Research Assistant Since 2010, Drs. Mary Anne Bishop (PWSSC) and Audrey Taylor (University of Alaska Anchorage) have been studying the migratory behavior […]
July 29, 2013

The X-Stream Team heads out on reconnaissance cruise

By Dan Crowther, Crew Leader On June 20th, the HW stream sampling crew (a.k.a. the X-Stream Team), joined by Project Manager Dr. Eric Knudsen, embarked on […]
July 29, 2013

Copper River Nouveau participants and sponsors break all past records

By Signe Fritsch, Development and Communications Specialist On June 15th, 124 guests joined together to make this year’s Copper River Nouveau the most successful to date. […]
July 29, 2013

Young scientists learn about their surroundings through exploration

By Marita Kleissler, Education Specialist Thirteen young scientists began their summer vacation hiking, playing leadership games, and learning how special it is to be living in […]
July 29, 2013

No more fuming in the lab

By Caitlin McKinstry, Research Assistant This past June, a brand new Labconco Protector Premier fume hood was installed by Paul Jensen and crew to replace its […]
July 24, 2013

PWSSC Hatchery-Wild Salmon Ocean Test Fishery Update

Related posts August 8, 2013 PWSSC Hatchery-Wild Salmon Project UpdateRead More June 17, 2014 Hatchery-Wild Ocean Test Fishery Catch By DayRead More September 1, 2014 Hatchery-Wild […]
July 10, 2013

PWSSC Hatchery-Wild Salmon Project Update

We’ve completed another week of sampling, which means two more sample trips, for a total of 13 so far. About halfway through the season – the […]
July 2, 2013

PWSSC WILD-HATCHERY SALMON INTERACTIONS RESEARCH UPDATE

On July 1, we concluded our fifth week of ocean test fishery sampling for salmon at the entrances of Prince William Sound. For more information about […]
June 25, 2013

PWSSC Wild-Hatchery Salmon Interactions Research

On June 21, we concluded the fourth week of ocean test fishery sampling for salmon at the entrances of Prince William Sound. When we receive the […]
June 3, 2013

PWSSC Studying Wild-Hatchery Salmon Interactions

The Prince William Sound Science Center (PWSSC) is now in its second year of a major contract from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) for a […]
April 29, 2013

Cordova Harbor Clean-up Day a success!

By Megan Milligan Last Saturday was a gorgeous, sunny day – the perfect setting for our first annual Cordova Harbor Clean-up Day. Forty-five volunteers showed up […]
April 29, 2013

Ocean Science Festival takes Valdez by storm

By Kara Johnson March 8 was a blustery day, but it didn’t stop hundreds of children and adults from attending the Ocean Science Festival in Valdez. […]
April 29, 2013

Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) hit the road

By Megan Milligan In March, Science Center educators took their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Discovery Outreach program on the road to Kodiak and Valdez. An ROV […]
April 29, 2013

Where do herring go after spawning?

By Mary Anne Bishop In 2008 the Science Center installed an underwater array of acoustic receivers across the mouth of Port Gravina in Prince William Sound […]
April 29, 2013

OSRI Receives Increased Support

The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act that was signed in December includes a provision that increases support for oil spill research in Alaskan waters.  The provision provides […]
March 25, 2013

PWSSC gets Rasmuson grant

The Prince William Sound Science Center in Cordova has been awarded $21,152 by the Rasmuson Foundation to finance laboratory renovation and safety equipment. Read more.   […]