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MBARI hosts 2025 Open House on Saturday, July 12

Press Release

MBARI’s annual Open House is an opportunity to meet our team, test your skills building and piloting an underwater robot, make children’s crafts, check out our fleet of deep-sea robots, and much more. Image: © 2025 MBARI

MBARI hosts 2025 Open House on Saturday, July 12

MBARI’s annual Open House is a free, family-friendly community event where visitors can meet the MBARI team and learn more about our latest discoveries and technology innovations.

Why It Matters

With the ocean at a critical crossroads, we urgently need diverse perspectives to develop new solutions to science and engineering challenges. Events like MBARI’s Open House seek to inspire and engage a new generation of ocean explorers.

MBARI is excited to announce our 2025 Open House on Saturday, July 12, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This free, family-friendly community event at our research facilities in Moss Landing, California, offers an opportunity to learn about MBARI’s latest ocean discoveries and technology innovations. 

“MBARI is thrilled to welcome our neighbors to take a peek behind the scenes and learn about the exciting research happening right here in our backyard,” said Science Communications and Content Manager Susan von Thun, who leads MBARI’s SciComm Team. “Education and outreach are at the heart of MBARI’s work. We hope events like our annual Open House can inspire the next generation of ocean explorers.”

The 2025 MBARI Open House will feature more than two dozen interactive booths. Visitors are invited to:

  • Chat with MBARI scientists, engineers, marine operations crew, and science communication experts.
  • Get an up-close look at MBARI’s fleet of deep-sea robots and other technology innovations.
  • Take part in hands-on demonstrations to learn about marine biology, ocean chemistry, and seafloor geology.
  • See MBARI’s research vessels from the dock and hear from our crew about working at sea.
  • Learn about careers in marine science and engineering.
An MBARI ROV pilot controls the mechanical arm of a robotic submersible. The pilot is wearing a navy blue cap, navy blue pullover, and blue jeans, and is sitting on the left side of the frame. On the right side of the frame is a robotic submersible with an orange foam float and black metal scientific instrumentation. In the foreground are two children attending the MBARI Open House.
Watch live demonstrations of MBARI’s underwater robots in action. Image: Mauro Candeloro © 2024 MBARI
An MBARI engineer speaks with two children while two adults observe in the distance. The engineer has a gray goatee, is wearing a navy blue cap, navy blue pullover, and blue jeans, and is standing on the left side of the frame behind a yellow stanchion. The children are on the right side of the frame. In the background is an assortment of machinery inside MBARI’s machine shop.
Tour MBARI’s machine shop, where we build tools for ocean exploration. Image: Tyson Rininger © 2024 MBARI
An MBARI researcher conducts a science demonstration for a large audience of Open House visitors. The MBARI researcher has shoulder-length brown hair, is wearing sunglasses, a navy blue pullover, and gray pants, and is standing on the left side of the frame. In the center is a table of test tubes and science activities. On the right side of the frame is a crowd of Open House visitors. The background is overcast gray sky and MBARI’s research buildings.
Take part in live science demonstrations with MBARI researchers. Image: Tyson Rininger © 2024 MBARI
An MBARI staff member hands a sticker to a pair of Open House visitors. The staff member has shoulder-length blonde hair, is wearing a colorful headband, sunglasses, a navy blue t-shirt, and blue jeans, and is standing next to a multi-colored spin wheel. In the foreground are two children wearing white hooded sweatshirts. In the background are the steps and entrance to MBARI’s building.
Join our scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes. Image: Tyson Rininger © 2024 MBARI
Two Open House visitors build an underwater robot. The child on the left is wearing a black graphic sweatshirt. The child on the right is wearing a blue cap, sunglasses, and a light blue hooded sweatshirt. They are standing behind a brown wooden table with an assortment of plastic parts assembled into the square frame of a robot. In the background are other Open House visitors blurred out of focus.
Test your skills building and piloting an underwater robot. Image: Mauro Candeloro © 2024 MBARI
An MBARI researcher talks to a crowd of Open House visitors. The researcher is wearing a beige cap, glasses, a navy blue t-shirt, and blue jeans. He is standing in front of scientific posters describing MBARI research at the Octopus Garden and Sur Ridge. In the foreground are the backs of the heads of three visitors.
Chat with MBARI scientists about their latest discoveries. Image: Mauro Candeloro © 2024 MBARI
A member of MBARI’s ship crew speaks with a pair of Open House visitors. The crew member has shaggy brown hair and a beard and is wearing sunglasses, a navy blue pullover, and blue jeans. He is standing in the center of the frame, pointing to a poster identifying the components of a robotic submersible on the left side of the frame. The visitors are standing on the right side of the frame in the foreground. In the background are other members of MBARI’s ship crew and an MBARI research vessel.
Meet the crew who operate MBARI’s research vessels. Image: Tyson Rininger © 2024 MBARI
A young Open House visitor colors in an illustration of a sea otter with a brown crayon. The child has silver nail polish and is wearing a pink-and-purple fleece jacket. In the background is white butcher paper.
Tap into your creativity with an assortment of arts and crafts. Image: Tyson Rininger © 2024 MBARI
An MBARI engineer explains a robot to Open House visitors. The engineer has short black hair and is wearing sunglasses, a navy blue pullover, a watch, and gray pants. He is on the right side of the frame, standing behind a wooden counter with a laptop and black plastic case. On the left side of the frame are four visitors observing a pool with an underwater robot. In the background are tents and several visitors walking past.
See the latest tech innovations from MBARI engineers. Image: Tyson Rininger © 2024 MBARI
Two visitors pose for a photo in front of a large, bright red inflatable model of a vampire squid. The visitor on the left is wearing a beige hat, black shirt, gray jeans, and black boots. The visitor on the right has shaggy black hair and is wearing a white shirt, black shorts, black socks, and black shoes. In the foreground on the right side of the frame is a third visitor with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a green jacket and brown backpack, taking a photo. In the foreground is the asphalt of MBARI’s parking lot. In the background are the masts of ships in Moss Landing Harbor and an overcast gray sky.
Take a selfie with our 12-foot inflatable vampire squid. Image: Tyson Rininger © 2023 MBARI

Help us spread the word about the 2025 MBARI Open House to your fellow ocean enthusiasts! Download a poster (English, Spanish) to print and share with friends and family.

MBARI is located at 7700 Sandholdt Road in Moss Landing, California. There is limited free street parking, and the nearby Moss Landing Harbor District also offers some parking for a fee. Carpooling is strongly recommended. The event is wheelchair accessible, and limited accessible parking will be available on-site on a first-come, first-served basis.

For the health and safety of our guests and MBARI staff, the 2025 MBARI Open House will be entirely outdoors. The event will take place rain or shine. MBARI research ships will be at the dock during the Open House; however, due to security regulations from the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard, we are not able to offer tours of our ships or allow the public to board our research vessels.

For additional information or images relating to this article, please email pressroom@mbari.org.

MBARI Team

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