CANCELED: NOAA Fisheries Pascagoula Mississippi Laboratories Offers Open House

Given recent developments related to Coronavirus/COVID-19, we have decided to cancel the NOAA Open House that was planned for Saturday, March 21 at our Pascagoula, MS lab. We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution for our volunteers and visitors.

About

NOAA is celebrating 50 years of science, service, and stewardship in fulfilling a mission to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.

To commemorate this momentous occasion NOAA Fisheries' Mississippi Laboratories is opening its doors to the public for an Open House. Come and enjoy a tour of an active research vessel and fisheries lab with exhibits and hands-on activities for all age groups that demonstrate various research topics. NOAA scientists will be on hand to present materials and answer questions about the diversity of NOAA, research projects and our mission of stewardship and service to the community.

Admission is free. All visitors must check in at the lobby of the NOAA facility located on the corner of Frederic St and Watts Ave. A government issued photo I.D. is required for adults and bags are subject to inspection. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from on-site food trucks.

The first 200 local boy scouts and girl scouts will have a chance to earn a NOAA Fun Patch.

The first 500 kids can create their own wearable fish art on t-shirts, with additional fish printing available on card stock, or bring your own shirt to print.

Schedule

Day 1

Parking:

Parking is available for free at the Pascagoula City Garage. The garage is three stories with 300 parking spots and handicap accessible.

Accessibility and Wheelchair Access:

The main lab has wheelchair access in the front of the building. For the ship tour, visitors will have to climb several flights of steep, narrow stairs and step through up to 24 inch doorways; unfortunately the ship is not handicap accessible.

List of Activities: This will be a full day of fun with lots of hands-on activities.

Ticketed Events:

Ship Tours 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

To schedule go to : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/noaa-ship-pisces-tour-tickets-83243524623. Continuous departures every 10 min and limited to 15 individuals per tour. For your safety closed toed shoes are required. During the tour visitors will have to climb several flights of steep, narrow stairs and step through up to 24 inch high doorways; unfortunately the ship is not handicap accessible. Due to tight spaces no backpacks, strollers, or large bags will be allowed. It is recommended that you arrive 5 min ahead of your scheduled time. A standby line will be available but subject to potentially long wait times or unavailability. Spaces is limited so reserve your tour now!

Scheduled Events:

Shark Dissection - 11:00; 12:30; 2:00

Weather Balloon Launch - 1:00

Media RSVP:

Reporters must register to attend by emailing karen.mitchell@noaa.gov.

Last updated by Southeast Regional Office on 03/11/2020