Friday Harbor Laboratories
Preparing to install the world’s largest underwater observatory

The NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative: Regional Scales Nodes project is developing a profiling system that records data in the upper 650 feet (200 m) of the ocean. Initial testing will begin this summer at FHL. Read more...


Addressing assumptions: variation in stable isotopes and fatty acids of marine macrophytes can confound conclusions of food web studies

Several FHL researchers collaborated on the paper featured in the Marine Ecology Progress Series

Read more...


Mussels cramped by environmental factors

Dr. Emily Carrington reported at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Boston that the fibrous threads in mussels she calls “nature’s bungee cords” become weaker in warmer water. Read more...

This research was also featured in a recent NSF Discoveries Research Series article:

Blue Mussels 'Hang On' Along Rocky Shores: For How Long?

Space-age domes offer a window on ocean acidification

The Ocean Acidification Research Apprenticeship (Ocean 492) taking place this spring has created a website and blog documenting their activities.

Read the blog | UW News article | UW Daily article


Piranha kin wielded dental weaponry even T. rex would have admired

Graduate student Stephanie Crofts' research on extreme jaw forces of living and extinct piranhas was recently published in Nature's Scientific Reports. Read more...


2013 Courses and Apprenticeships

FHL is accepting applications for Summer and Fall 2013 courses and research apprenticeships.

General Student Information

Spring 2013 | Summer 2013 | Autumn 2013


Safeguarding marine species

By examining how species are affected by large predator protection, FHL Director Ken Sebens influences global thinking on the value of marine protected areas. Here, he discusses his progress to date. Download the pdf

Coming Events   FHL Calendar


Illg Distinguished Lectureship, June 19 and 20

Dr. Gonzalo Giribet, Harvard University Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Curator of Invertebrates, Museum of Comparative Zoology, will give two lectures. On the 19th there will be a scientific talk in the Commons and on the 20th there will be a public lecture at the San Juan Community Theatre. More information.


Arthur H. Whiteley passes away

Dr. Whiteley was a man who greatly appreciated art and science, and generously supported both endeavors at the Friday Harbor Laboratories and in the Department of Zoology at the University of Washington.

Read the obituary

Watch Arthur's oral history

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