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What You'll Experience
Here are some of the experiences and activities we will share with you, and the research teams you may have the opportunity to meet. Please note that activity offerings are subject to change, and lab tour experiences have limited availability.
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Meet Dr. Chris Lowe and the CSULB Shark Lab team of graduate and undergraduate students. The mission of the Shark Lab is to study the physiological and behavioral ecology of marine animals, emphasizing the effect of human activity on the ocean; to utilize and develop innovative technology to answer challenging questions important for the conservation and restoration of depleted populations; and to train the next generation of marine biologists.
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Tour the Shark Lab's facilities, which include a semi-enclosed outdoor tank bay that has a 10,000 gallon recirculating system including chillers, protein skimmers, and cartridge filters. The tank bay has several large polyurethane tanks for holding gamefishes, sharks, skates and rays.
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Learn about shark and beach safety at the Shark Shack. A project of the Shark Lab, the Shark Shack builds appreciation for sharks by reducing fear and informing the public about sharks and other marine life they may encounter at the beach. The Shark Shack has information and activities for all ages.
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Tour the Marine Lab's facilities, which include an 6,000 gallon recirculating seawater system which supplies tanks in both indoor and semi-enclosed outdoor spaces with a constant supply of clean water at local environmental temperatures. Thus it has the ability to keep locally collected live marine animals (algae, invertebrates, and fishes) for classroom and research purposes.
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Explore the Science Learning Center (SLC), a unique learning space located on campus. The SLC seeks to provide exceptional learning experiences for both local K-8 youth as well as the students of CSULB through exhibits and activities that encourage questioning and hands-on investigation.
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Discover how soap destroys viruses like SARS-CoV-2 with Dr. Peter Ramirez and his Virology Lab team of graduate and undergraduate students. In this activity, participants will build different virus models to see how they react to soap. The Ramirez lab studies virus-cell interactions that control infection to Retroviruses (HIV-1) and Coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2).
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Check out the Museum Collections for a special display of Mammal, Bird, Reptile, and Fish specimens! The CSULB collections of vertebrate animals boast a count of nearly 40,000 specimens, making them a valuable resource for study by researchers within and outside of the university. The collections are also used for instruction in laboratory classrooms and for educational displays on and off campus.
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Meet Dr. Ted Stankowich and the CSULB Mammal Lab team of graduate and undergraduate students. The Mammal Lab studies how animals make decisions during predator-prey encounters and investigates what ecological factors influence the evolution of animal behavior and defensive weaponry. The Mammal Lab also works to minimize conflict between humans and wildlife, especially in urban settings.
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See and learn about a selection of rare and uniquely adapted plants that we grow and study here at The Beach.
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Create patterns and see modern mathematics. Our Department of Mathematics and Statistics will introduce you to current mathematics being researched today such as tiling and graph theory, through playing with patterns and coloring. We have activities appropriate for all ages, with difficulties ranging from simple to complex.
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Explore the diversity of round stingray barbs under the microscope. There are all sorts of shapes and sizes to see! Also, check out the different "zombie" feet that we use in the lab to simulate what happens when you accidentally step on a stingray at the beach. We also have some surf booty material that we tested to see if it will keep your feet safe at the beach if stung by a stingray.
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Meet the STABB Lab team, a group of undergraduate students studying animal locomotion. With a current focus on round stingrays, Dr. Ben Perlman and his team use high-speed cameras, engineering equipment, and computer software to describe the animals' behavior. These studies will inform beach goers on how to remain safe and reduce stingray tail strikes when entering the ocean, e.g., the "stingray shuffle!"
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Use an "augmented reality sandbox" to visualize the shapes of mountains and valleys. Understanding the Earth and environment requires working with maps and developing great visualization skills - this unique activity from our Department of Earth Science will help you understand mountains, valleys, and watersheds.
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Explore the shapes and hidden crystal structures of rocks, minerals and beach sand that tell you how they formed, where they came from, and what kind of ancient life lived in the past. Examine samples with your eyes and special geologic microscopes, provided by our Department of Earth Science, that let you look into the rocks to see their beautiful, hidden features, and colors.
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Use geologist tools to uncover hidden fossils buried within hardened sand. Geologists and archeologists use specialized tools to gently and carefully unlock treasures trapped in the earth.
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Use the Shake Table to simulate an earthquake, and see how vibrations affect structures and can even turn sand into a liquid-like substance.
