The Outreach Center for Teaching Ocean Science (OCTOS) is a technologically state-of-the-art educational outreach facility at the University of California, Santa Barbara. OCTOS - The Vision, Image 1The esteemed outreach programs of UCSB’s Marine Science Institute (MSI) and those of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) come together at OCTOS through compelling, interactive programming. Independently, MSI and CINMS have distinguished track records, and are now joining forces in a stunning new building where cutting-edge curriculum-driven programming promises to draw students from the entire spectrum of education: K-12 through post-graduate, from the region, the state and the west.

OCTOS will be housed in the Ocean Science Education Building constructed adjacent to the Marine Science Institute on Lagoon Road, perched along the coastal bluffs and overlooking an expansive ocean view that is unrivaled. Benefiting from the synergy of bringing together the resources of CINMS and MSI under one roof, the heart of OCTOS connects students, educators, community groups and the public to innovative educational programs based on the latest ocean science research while utilizing the highest level of technology: virtual reality experiences, videos, interactive learning tools and Web content. One wing of the 15,000 square foot, two-story building will house the administrative and research functions of CINMS and the other will house OCTOS.

OCTOS - The Vision, Image 2 These scenario-based activities include a transect of the ocean floor (an innovative structure making its debut at OCTOS) and a “magic planet” that enables students to view what they see in the trasect in the context of global conditions based on actual data inputs. Additional features of the outreach wing include a multipurpose (wet) class laboratory, immersive theatre and classrooms, as well as an entry court and gathering place. The building has been designed by EHDD, a national award-winning leader in sustainable architecture whose expertise is proven in buildings for science (Carnegie Institute for Science) and public aquariums (Monterey Bay Aquarium).

Distinguished for its global leadership in preparing tomorrow’s leaders in science and conservation, and for its collaborative spirit among the sciences, MSI’s partnership with CINMS reflects its commitment to expanding opportunities for science and education while integrating research with educational outreach. OCTOS - The Vision, Image 4The vision for OCTOS is for the process of science to find its place where the skills of inquiry, critical thinking, and communication are applied to understanding and appreciating the unique environment of our neighboring ocean. Through study of these extraordinary local resources, students can begin to understand the important role oceans play on our planet and begin to see the opportunities for solving key global issues through the study of science.

OCTOS - The Vision, Image 3 Last year the combined programs of MSI and CINMS served nearly 35,000 students through programs in the Channel Islands, the Santa Barbara Harbor and the REEF facilities at UCSB’s Campus Point.

For more information about realizing the vision of OCTOS and for leadership giving opportunities, please contact Gay Larsen, Director of Development, MSI: 805-893-3423 or larsen@msi.ucsb.edu.