The Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction, through its education partner the University of Washington, is deploying an oceanographic observing buoy in Bellingham Bay this week that will allow Northwest Indian College students both hands-on experience with the technology as well as the ability to study the data from their computers, through the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems, NANOOS.
“It’s impressive to see NWIC students helping Western and UW collect important data from our oceans,” said Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island. “The collaboration between these three schools is key to monitoring what goes on in these waters.”
The goals of the Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction are to transcend traditional scientific, educational and societal boundaries to understand complex coastal margin issues. Through the organization, Northwest Indian College students have joined UW students on oceanography research cruises out of the UW’s Friday Harbor Laboratories. UW worked with Northwest Indian College, Western Washington University and the Lummi Nation Natural Resources Department to site the buoy and design its features. The buoy will provide the oceanographic data needed to understand fluctuations in harvested species like Dungeness crab and clams.
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