News

We are honored and excited to announce the very first ARCS FOUNDATION OREGON “IMPACT AWARD”!

As our chapter has been supporting graduate education for over 20 years, we’ve come to recognize that there is a TREMENDOUS amount of important science happening in Oregon, and many amazing people working on projects that impact not only Oregonians but far beyond. 

This year we decided to start recognizing some of those standouts and zeroed in on a couple who are well-known in the world of marine science. We are awarding our Inaugural “IMPACT AWARD” to Oregon State University’s Bruce and Mary Lou Mate!

Dr. Bruce Mate has made extraordinary contributions to science, innovation, mentorship and the advancement of marine research over a career spanning more than five decades. He has had a global impact on conservation and worked with seven different endangered whale populations, including of course his beloved gray whales you can see out on our coast. He is internationally recognized as a pioneer for his revolutionary satellite-monitored telemetry allowing researchers to track tagged whales and other marine mammals across entire ocean basins, greatly impacting our understanding of important marine populations and ocean health. Bruce has advised groups such as the International Whaling Commission, US Marine Mammal Commission, American Cetacean Society, and many more. He has consulted with Russian, US and global oil and gas companies, the US Navy, NOAA, the UN and NATO and more, regarding endangered species. 

Here at home, Bruce founded Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute at the Oregon Coast, which is now recognized as one of the top two such programs in the entire world. The Marine Studies Programs at Newport have revitalized the area, and support 65 faculty, numerous graduate students, research fellows, visiting scholars and professors, and undergraduates.

Dr. Mate has trained, mentored, and inspired generations of students and researchers, including several of our ARCS scholars, and an extensive list of others who are now leading their own programs. Lisa Ballance, a fellow ARCS member and current Director of MMI, told us: “Many of us in science think of a professor’s academic tree as a depiction of their impact on the world, with their students going forward … like ripples that cascade to touch others. Bruce’s impact on the world has been profound!” It is noted that Bruce's “family tree” of mentees and their mentees now reaches six branches deep! Now that’s a lot of ripples!

Let us back up a little to tell you why Mary Lou deserves some of the credit. We learned that they were 7th grade sweethearts growing up in Wheaton, Illinois. Fast-forward to Bruce fully immersed in his career, poorly funded and short-handed. Mary Lou, an intensive and coronary care nurse, with two small children, began pitching in. She went into the field with Bruce, at times homeschooling their kids, and helping with field work. After the kids were grown, she became his research assistant, as well as all-around partner on the famous “Baja Whale trips,” a great educational tool for MMI friends and donors. Along the way, Mary Lou learned about ARCS and became an active member in 2015. 

As you can see, we could go on and on about Bruce and Mary Lou. We haven’t mentioned his multitude of other projects, such as saving a dead Blue Whale to preserve the skeleton, now attracting visitors to our marine studies facilities in Newport, or fundraising through sales of the popular whale license plates. So many great ideas!

Thank you, Bruce and Mary Lou for all you have done to put the Marine Mammal Institute, ARCS Foundation Oregon, Oregon State University, Newport, and Oregon on the map and in the news!

Congratulations Bruce and Mary Lou!