The Outreach Center for Teaching Ocean Science (OCTOS) is a sustainably designed state-of-the-art outreach facility at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). The esteemed education and outreach programs of UCSB’s Marine Science Institute (MSI) and those of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) will come together at OCTOS through compelling, interactive programming.

Benefiting from the synergy of bringing together the resources of CINMS and MSI, the heart of OCTOS will connect 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 online content. The cutting-edge curriculum-driven programming will draw students from the entire spectrum of education: K-12 through post-graduate, from the region, the state and the west.

Scenario-based activities will include a virtual transect of the ocean floor and a global spherical display that enables students to view what they see in the transect in the context of global conditions based on actual data inputs. Additional features of OCTOS include a multipurpose (wet) class laboratory, immersive theatre and classrooms, as well as an entry court and gathering place landscaped with plants native to California and the Channel Islands.

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. The 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.

Get in on the sea floor of this exciting expansion to science education and outreach in Santa Barbara! OCTOS is being built now. If you are interested in learning more about supporting OCTOS, including naming opportunities, please contact Gay Larsen at 805-893-3423 or larsen@msi.ucsb.edu. Additional information is online at: octos.ucsb.edu.