- Brushing Elbows with the (Marine Science)Stars: Katy Payne is a Research Associate in the Bioacoustics Research Program of Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology. Sh...
- A Good Time Was Had by All: Sitka Sound Science Center hosted a reception for Sitka Whalefest during Sitka Whalefest in November. Sitka Whalefest sold it...
- Hatchery happenings...: The hatchery staff have been very busy this fall. Currently we have 3.2 million green pink eggs and 640,000 green chu...
- UAS offers Finfish Culture Techniques lab: FT193P: Finfish Culture Techniques 3 day intensive course geared towards those who are new to Alaska's salmonid enhancement p...
- Crystal Cruises Volunteer Program ends Successful Season with SSSC!: Crystal Cruises Thank YouOn August 18th the last session of the Crystal Cruise "We Care" Program successfully completed volun...
Hot SSSC News

NEW Keet After School Program
January 27, 2012SSSC is starting up a new after school program for students grades 2-5. The first five week session will focus on Coastal Ecology. The second five week session will focus on Aquatic Ecosystems. For more information check out the Education tab and School Programs!
Read moreApplications coming in for SIRF
January 23, 2012The National Science Foundation funded Scientist in Residency Fellowship(SIRF) based at the Sitka Sound Science Center is receiving applications for the first time. SIRF offers busy working scientists an opportunity for a mini sabbatical in Sitka. Sitka Sound Science Center provides housing, travel, stipend and work space for scientists to work on a small project, prepare for publication, analyze data or think through some new ideas. SIRF fellows do some outreach and education while they are in Sitka. For more information contact SIRF director Tory O'Connell at voconnell@sitkasoundsciencecenter.org
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SSSC at Science Symposium
January 23, 2012The Sitka Sound Science Center attended the Alaska Marine Science Symposium(AMSS) this year to promote our facilities, our research and our new SIRF fellowship. Director Lisa Busch and UAS researcher Jan Straley manned a booth at the Symposium, attended scientific talks and hosted a poster about the intertidal research SSSC is conducting. The Symposium attracts over a thousand...
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SSSC Sperm Whale Depredation Study Presents
January 20, 2012Delphine Mathias, PhD student at Scripps Institute of Oceanography presented at the Alaska Marine Science Sympoim held in Anchorage each January. Her talk entitled "Depth and Range Tracking of Sperm Whales in the Gulf of Alaska Using a Two-Element Vertical Array, Satellite and Bioacoustics Tags" is part of a project SSSC is colloborating on with the University of Alaska and the...
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Science Communication Workshop
January 18, 2012Local Sitka scientists, Matt Goff, Kitty LaBounty and Jan Straley meet with CoastAlaska reporters during a science communication workshop held at SSSC.
Read moreMurdock Trust and DIPAC Fund Hatchery
December 7, 2011The M.J. Murdock Trust awarded the Sitka Sound Science Center a $57,000 "top off" grant for hatchery improvements inside the building. The project will include upgrading the incubation and rearing area with a new mechanical filtration system,a new alarm system and a new headbox and otolith marking heater and pump. In order to receive the grant, SSSC was asked to raise the remaining project costs. DIPAC recently approved supporting the improvements with a $37,000 grant to expand our net pens. The project will allow SSSC to improve its hatchery efficiency, but also train students in the UAS Fish Technology Program on equipment that is relevant to modern hatcheries.
Read moreTaking AME Takes Off
October 27, 2011The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded Sitka Sound Science Center a grant to institute the Taking AME(Aquaculture and Marine Education)program in the Sitka School District. The two year project will support a Scientists in the Schools program that encourages elementary students to pursue higher education in aquaculture and marine science. The program also hopes to help elementary teachers feel more comfortable teaching science. The program is based on the Sitka Whalefest Scientists in the Schools program that coordinates the guest lecturers and pre-lessons with the existing curriculum and classroom teachers.
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SSSC and DNR begin Water Monitoring Study!
September 15, 2011The Sitka Sound Science Center through funding provided by the State of Alaska, is partnering with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to monitor water use from Indian River. Lon Garrison, Aquaculture Director at SSSC, and his staff Grant Miller and Shannon McMillian and Terry Schwartz, State Hydrologist with DNR have installed a control notch weir at the flume and will also establish a water table monitoring program for Sitka high school students. Thanks to Representative Peggy Wilson...
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Killer Whale Coming Together
August 17, 2011The re-articulation of a juvenile male killer whale has been coming together slowly and steadily this summer. Dr. Shannon Atkinson with help from Sitka marine mammal biologist Jan Straley and her lab have led the project. We are grateful to the incredibly dedicated team of volunteers that helped get the bones scrubbed and soaked so far. Funded by NOAA, the North Pacific Research Board and the...
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Representative Peggy Wilson accompanies scientists to Whiting Harbor to investigate invasive tunicate situation
July 8, 2011Peggy Wilson and her Natural Resources Aide Sheila Finkenbinder accompanied local scientists Marnie Chapman, Carrie Hisaoka, and Paul Norwood and SSSC staff Grant Miller to Whiting Harbor on Thursday July 7th to learn more about the occurance of the invasive colonial tunicate Didemnum vixillum with a focus on faciliating removal of the infected structures. In June of last year, Didemnum...
Read more- NEW Keet After School Program
- Applications coming in for SIRF
- SSSC at Science Symposium
- SSSC Sperm Whale Depredation Study Presents
- Science Communication Workshop
- Murdock Trust and DIPAC Fund Hatchery
- Taking AME Takes Off
- SSSC and DNR begin Water Monitoring Study!
- Killer Whale Coming Together
- Representative Peggy Wilson accompanies scientists to Whiting Harbor to investigate invasive tunicate situation
About the Sitka Sound Science Center
The Sitka Sound Science Center, a 501c3 nonprofit corporation, is based in Sitka, Alaska – the only full-service community on the outer coast of Southeast Alaska. The SSSC is uniquely qualified to provide unparalleled access for research and education programs in the Gulf of Alaska, Eastern Pacific Ocean,
and North American Coastal Temperate Rainforests.
The SSSC builds upon Sitka’s legacy as a research and educational community. Sitka has a maritime tradition and commercial, charter, sport, and subsistence fishing all still play vital roles in the economy and culture of our community. Sitka also has ample opportunities for outreach and education. For example, in addition to local K-12 and university education, approximately 200,000 tourists visit Sitka every summer.
Recent SSSC News
Upcoming SSSC Events
- Short term and seasonal rental space available for scientists!: Do you conduct seasonal field work in Sitka? Need a place to look at samples, enter data, and store gear? The Sitka Sound Sci...