MBFE - Days 26-28 - Sneak peak at the Charleston Marine Life Center

I think it's safe to say that the MBFE crew spent most of Saturday working on their research presentations and their laboratory and field notebooks.  They were due today (Monday 5/18) at 5pm.

We did take a break during the afternoon though and were treated to a sneak peak at OIMB's Charleston Marine Life Center (CMLC).  This is a combination aquarium and educational facility scheduled to open to the public in August 2015.  Dr. Craig Young, Director of OIMB invited us to take a look at how it's coming along.

L-R: Rachel S, Skyler, Shannon, Jennifer, Arianne, Dr. Craig Young, Kelly, and Jessica just inside the front door of the CMLC.

Two of the main exhibits at the CMLC are mounted skeletons from a real gray whale (upper) and a killer whale (lower).  Both died near the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology and have been in storage for years, now they have a place to be on display.  Impressive!

We had a chance to do many things that regular visitors will not be allowed to do - that's always fun.  for example, we got to handle the teeth from the killer whale skeleton.  The teeth in the mounted skeletons are models of the real teeth,  This was done for two reasons.  Dr. Young told us that first, killer whale teeth eventually crack, and second, that because killer whale teeth are ivory he did not want to run the risk of someone trying to climb up and remove teeth - dangerous to the skeleton and the potential thief. (L-R: Joseph, Rachel S, Orcinus orca, Dr. Young, Kelly and Skyler).

Look at the size of these teeth!

Rachel S., Rachel M, and Joseph take a closer look at those chompers. Luke and Courtney chat in the background and Devon and Jennifer look at a display in prep in the far right background.

Then Dr. Young help up a display cover so that students who wanted to could feel a real sea otter pelt - one of the most prized types of fur in the late 1800s.  Courtney gives it a try while Jennifer and Shannon look on.  I touched it, and that fur is dense and soft!  It's too bad that sea otters were nearly hunted to extinction.

Here Dr. Young introduces the MBFE to a display that when complete will cover dolphins and toothed whales (L-R: Rachel S, Dr. Young, Skyler, Kelly, Joseph), and Courtney and Luke look at a sperm whale skull to the right).

Shannon, Jennifer, and Isaac chat after looking at the sperm whale skull.

Dr. Young is a great host, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time at OIMB (Dr. Craig Young, left, Dr. Alan Holyoak - MBFE Director, right)

Time to go...