More than two dozen free interactive exhibits and behind-the-scenes tours await guests on the Narragansett Bay Campus
August 30, 2024
All are invited to a family-friendly day on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the University of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay Campus, home to the Graduate School of Oceanography, Department of Ocean Engineering, and numerous other organizations, which together create a world-renowned community of coastal and ocean scientists, engineers, managers, policy experts and educators.
Science Saturday is an opportunity for guests of all ages to learn the latest in ocean exploration, discovery, science, technology, and conservation. The free event is also a chance to enjoy behind-the-scenes tours, interactive experiences, and conversations with a wide variety of coastal and ocean experts.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the University’s Narragansett Bay Campus, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett.
“This is a special day where deep-sea robots are rolled out onto the quad, laboratory doors are opened, our fleet of boats and ship are on display, and guests can spend time with Rhode Island’s incredible community of ocean and coastal experts working on the Narragansett Bay Campus,” said GSO Dean Paula S. Bontempi. “We are especially excited to bring Science Saturday back to campus, even as we navigate the construction from our campus renewal. We hope to inspire the next generation of ocean explorers and stewards, showcase our education programs to train a strong workforce, and create a shared vision for the future of Earth’s ocean. Our scientists work from Narragansett Bay to Earth’s poles – so there is a lot to experience”
More than two dozen interactive ocean science exhibits will explore topics including deep-sea creatures, extreme weather events and their impacts, rocks from the seafloor, ocean robots and the hidden world of underwater sound. GSO’s entire fleet and the Marine Science Research Facility, an on-campus research aquarium, will be open for tours. “The Synergy Project: A Collaboration of Art and Science,” featuring works made in collaboration with artists from Art League RI and scientists from GSO and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will be on display in The Coastal Institute’s Studio Blue. Guests are also invited to join in fun activities like volcanic eruption demonstrations, sea crafts with Rhode Island Sea Grant, and fish printing with the Coastal Resources Center.
Several Rhode Island-based food trucks will also be onsite with savory and sweet options. URI’s Sea Shanty Social Club will be performing, adding a lively maritime atmosphere to the day. Science Saturday 2024 is a Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management certified Green Event, with GSO making concerted efforts around sustainability to achieve this certification.
Registration for this event is suggested but not required. Register on Eventbrite.
This story was written by Mackensie duPont Crowley, URI GSO’s digital communications coordinator.