Marine and Coastal Opportunities - Oregon State University

What Marine and Coastal Opportunities - Oregon State University does

Marine and Coastal Opportunities (MACO) is an academic support program within Oregon State University's Division of Academic Affairs, founded in 2016 as an evolution of the Marine Studies Initiative. MACO operates as the university's centralized hub for connecting students and faculty across all OSU campuses (Corvallis, Cascades, and Ecampus) with marine and coastal experiential learning delivered primarily through the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. The program coordinates advising, peer support, scholarship disbursement, housing assistance, shuttle logistics, and faculty course-development funding (the annual MACO Advancement Awards). Its portfolio includes a Coastal Course Roster of field-based courses spanning marine mammal biology and conservation, coastal oceanography, bioacoustics, aquaculture, ocean engineering, and creative fieldwork — including the OC 396x Coastal Oceanography Field Methods course launching Summer 2026.

MACO does not build proprietary commercial technology. Its operational backbone is the Hatfield MSC research ecosystem: CTD-Rosette systems, multibeam sonar, Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs), stereo underwater video, hydrophones, and the Innovation Lab (iLab) prototyping facility, complemented by research vessels including the R/V Elakha and the restored Western Flyer. The program's digital layer consists of a content-rich website, social media presence, a YouTube channel, and quarterly newsletters (Winter, Spring/Summer, Fall) archived back to 2018 — functioning as communications infrastructure rather than as productized technology.

The business model is institutional rather than commercial. MACO is funded through Oregon State University's Division of Academic Affairs budget allocation and supplemented by tax-deductible donor gifts via the OSU Foundation to its Innovation Fund and a newly established Student Coastal Housing Endowed Support Fund. Its core services are delivered free to OSU students and faculty; student-side costs are limited to course-specific flat fees (typically $25–$195). Named partnerships span Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Blue Resources Trust, the Oregon Coast Aquarium, the U.S. Forest Service, the University of Aruba, and Lincoln/Benton County transit operators. The program operates from a 9-person staff across two primary sites: an administrative office at 300 Strand Ag Hall in Corvallis and Hatfield MSC in Newport.

Name

Marine and Coastal Opportunities - Oregon State University

Legal name

Oregon State University

Website

https://maco.oregonstate.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MACO is an academic support program at Oregon State University that serves as the centralized hub connecting OSU students and faculty with marine and coastal experiential learning at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine and Coastal Higher Education / Experiential Learning Programs

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchant Marine & Deck Operations (EDAOANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Naval Training, Simulation & Shore-Based Support Systems (IMABAKAO)

Keywords

• Marine experiential learning
• Coastal education programs
• Academic advising services
• Marine career pathways
• Field-based research training

Headquarters

HQ city

Corvallis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. University Budget Allocation: MACO is an academic support program housed within Oregon State University's Division of Academic Affairs alongside other university experiential learning programs, funded through OSU's institutional budget.
2. Donor Gifts and Innovation Fund: MACO accepts tax-deductible donations through the OSU Foundation to its Innovation Fund, which provides unrestricted support enabling strategic planning, faculty and undergraduate research opportunities, and flexibility for emerging initiatives. A new Student Coastal Housing Endowed Support Fund was also established by a donor to support student residential experiences at Hatfield.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Marine and Coastal Opportunities (MACO) is an academic support program that connects Oregon State University students and faculty with marine and coastal experiential learning opportunities at the Oregon Coast. It delivers field-based courses at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, marine career pathway exploration (aquaculture, maritime operations, marine mammalogy), peer advising, internship and research placement support, faculty Advancement Awards for new coastal course development, and financial assistance (Coastal Travel Assistance shuttle tickets and Coastal Field Housing Awards up to $400 per term) — all provided at no cost to OSU students.

Product overview

Marine and Coastal Opportunities (MACO) is Oregon State University's central hub for marine and coastal education, operating as a unified program that connects students and faculty with experiential learning opportunities at the Oregon Coast. The portfolio centers on the Coastal Course Roster featuring field-based courses at Hatfield Marine Science Center, the Marine Careers Program covering aquaculture, maritime operations, and marine mammalogy pathways, and the MACO Advancement Awards supporting faculty-led experiential courses. Key course offerings include OC 396x Coastal Oceanography Field Methods, FW 568 Human Dimensions of Marine Mammal Conservation, FW 461x/561x Marine Bioacoustics, and FW 457x/557x Biology, Ecology, and Conservation of Marine Mammals. Supporting services include financial assistance programs (Coastal Travel Assistance, Coastal Field Housing Awards), the OSU Small Boat Program, OSU Scientific Diving training, MACO Newsletters and Video Productions for communications, and the MACO Communications Toolkit for faculty. Hatfield Marine Science Center facilities provide hands-on research and training infrastructure. The program does not operate as a technology product with integrations or APIs, but rather as an educational pathway coordinator connecting students with coastal learning experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marine and Coastal Opportunities (MACO) Program OSU's central hub dedicated to connecting students and faculty with the Oregon Coast, offering experiential learning programs, courses at Hatfield Marine Science Center, career pathways, internships, and financial assistance for marine and coastal studies.
• Coastal Course Roster Field-based courses hosted at Hatfield Marine Science Center that immerse students in research, teaching, and hands-on fieldwork across various marine and coastal topics including marine mammals, oceanography, phycology, science communication, art, and marine ecosystems.
• Marine Careers Program Career exploration platform covering aquaculture, maritime operations, and marine mammalogy with career path examples, interviews from professionals, applicable degrees, facilities, and scholarship information.
• Aquaculture Career Pathways Career exploration resources covering aquaculture roles including farm management, sustainability specialization, social science research, and student preparation pathways with applicable degrees, courses, and internship opportunities.
• OC 396x: Coastal Oceanography Field Methods Hands-on 4-credit field course providing applied training in coastal oceanographic instruments, sensors, and sampling techniques aboard research vessels, including CTD-Rosette systems, multibeam sonar, sediment coring, and ADCP deployment. Course fee: $195.00 covering vessel access, instruments, materials, and ship time.
• FW 568: Human Dimensions of Marine Mammal Conservation Graduate-level course developing skills to address human-wildlife conflict using marine mammals as case studies, within a systems thinking framework and serving as a core course for the Marine Mammal Graduate Certificate.
• FW 461x/561x: Introduction to Marine Bioacoustics Course covering passive and active acoustic sources, animal communication, standard bioacoustics tools, impacts of noise on marine life, and conservation applications, with hands-on experience collecting and analyzing acoustic data and building hydrophones.
• OC 332: Coastal Oceanography Comprehensive introduction to interdisciplinary oceanography encompassing biological, physical, geological, and chemical subdisciplines with hands-on labs, field excursions, and research cruise aboard R/V Elakha.
• FW 457x/557x: Biology, Ecology, and Conservation of Marine Mammals 9-credit in-depth exploration of marine mammals covering social behavior, feeding, migration, biogeography, bioacoustics, ecological roles, evolution, management, and conservation with field trips and laboratory work. MACO offered ten $600 scholarships for this hands-on field course.
• MACO Advancement Awards (Faculty Financial Awards) Annual financial awards given to OSU faculty to cultivate interdisciplinary collaborations with a focus on human dimensions of oceans/coasts, expand educational opportunities at the coast, and further inclusive excellence in marine-related programs. Awardee cohorts span 2024, 2025, and 2026.
• Coastal Travel Assistance Program Program providing free Coast-to-Valley Express shuttle tickets (up to 20 one-way tickets per term, distributed in two batches of 10) for students pursuing marine-related academic endeavors at Hatfield Marine Science Center. Requests must be made at least 5 business days in advance.
• Coastal Field Housing Awards Awards of up to $400 per term for students taking courses at Hatfield Marine Science Center to support housing costs. Students must reapply each term.
• OSU Small Boat Program Program providing students and faculty with resources and training to safely operate small boats (motorized and paddle), with a fleet of boats available for research excursions.
• OSU Scientific Diving Office that certifies and trains those pursuing SCUBA diving in professional and recreational capacities, providing resources to achieve PADI certifications.
• Peer Advising Program Student-to-student advising service providing one-on-one guidance to OSU students exploring marine pathways, course selection, internship placements, and financial assistance processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85+ students served through the Puerto Rico service-learning course over three offerings
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oregon Sea GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOregon Sea Grant is a key strategic partner supporting MACO's mission through the Student Internship Program (funding student placements), the Summer Scholars fellowship program, outreach and engagement in aquaculture, and co-funding aquaculture-related video productions. Sea Grant's Guide to Oregon Aquaculture is referenced across MACO's aquaculture career resources.
• Hatfield Marine Science CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHatfield MSC is MACO's primary physical location and operational partner. MACO coordinates with Hatfield for student housing, classroom scheduling, field trip logistics, motor pool van access, IT support, library services, and access to Hatfield's research facilities and the Innovation Lab (iLab). Hatfield's visitor center, Guin Library, and research seminars are key program components.
• Blue Resources Trust (BRT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Resources Trust partnered with Dr. Joshua Stewart and graduate student Shanta Shamsunnahar on the Sri Lankan gilnet fisheries bycatch research project funded by a MACO Advancement Award. BRT facilitated local fisher partnerships and data collection in Sri Lanka, yielding positive results in bycatch reduction estimates.
• Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (ODFW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerODFW collaborated with OSU's Innovation Lab (iLab) to build an updated underwater stereo video system for fisheries research. The project, funded through a MACO Advancement Award to Drummond Wengrove and team, updated existing camera technology with a more user-friendly design to continue fulfilling ODFW's research needs.
• Oregon Coast AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Oregon Coast Aquarium serves as a site visit location for multiple MACO-supported courses including FW 289 (Communication Skills for Fisheries & Wildlife Professionals) and the Thinking With Oceans course, where students experience science communication in action through the aquarium's exhibits and staff.
• Guin Library (Hatfield Marine Science Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuin Library at Hatfield MSC is the largest marine science library on the West Coast and provides library services, course reserves, study rooms, and library workshops for students in MACO-supported coastal courses. Julie Drengson and David Irvin coordinate library access for course needs.
• U.S. Forest ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe U.S. Forest Service partnered with MACO's ART 360/460 Creative Field Work course, providing rangers to guide students on a five-day camping trip at Cape Perpetua along the Oregon Coast, where students explored rocky intertidal zones and learned about human interaction with the coastal landscape.
• Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMACO references OCCC's Aquarium Science (AQS) program as a recommended pathway for students interested in aquatic animal husbandry. OCCC's nationally recognized program offers one-year certificates through four-year degrees in aquarium science, complementing OSU's marine offerings.
• University of ArubaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Aruba collaborated with OSU on the Virtual Field project (MACO Advancement Award to Itchung Cheung and Dwaine Plaza), which used GoPro and GoPro Max 360 cameras to create immersive field experiences. Content was incorporated into the OSU Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course 'Coasts Compared: Aruba and Oregon'.
• Lincoln County Public Transit / Coast to Valley ExpressminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLincoln County Public Transit operates the Coast to Valley Express shuttle connecting the Corvallis campus to Hatfield MSC in Newport. MACO purchases and distributes shuttle tickets to qualifying students for degree-related travel, enabling coastal course access for students without personal vehicles.
• Benton County Public TransitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBenton County Public Transit operates the Coast to Valley Express shuttle route connecting OSU's McNary Hall in Corvallis to Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, providing the primary public transit link for students commuting to coastal courses.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): Independent oceanographic research and education institution with joint graduate program with MIT. Comparable to MACO in offering field-based marine science education and hands-on oceanographic training, but operates at much larger scale with its own research vessels and facilities.
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego): One of the world's premier marine research and education institutions at UC San Diego. While much larger and more research-focused than MACO, Scripps offers comparable undergraduate and graduate marine science pathways and shares the academic-coordinator role for ocean education, though at vastly greater scale and broader geographic reach.
• Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science (University of Miami): University of Miami's marine and atmospheric science school offering interdisciplinary ocean education and research. Comparable to MACO in providing a centralized academic hub for marine studies, but with a larger faculty, broader research portfolio, and stronger national brand recognition in marine science.

Others

• Hatfield Marine Science Center (Oregon State University): MACO's primary operational partner and physical coastal campus at OSU in Newport, OR. While not a separate company, Hatfield MSC is the facility host enabling MACO's field courses, internships, and research experiences — making it the closest ecosystem participant to MACO's own programmatic scope.

Direct peers

• Graduate School of Oceanography (University of Rhode Island): University of Rhode Island's oceanography graduate school offering marine science research and education with its own coastal facility. Directly comparable to MACO as an academic marine science hub with coastal field stations and research vessel access, but more research-intensive at the graduate level.
• School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering (University of New Hampshire): University of New Hampshire's interdisciplinary school spanning marine science, ocean engineering, and ocean mapping. Comparable to MACO in offering interdisciplinary marine academic programs that integrate natural sciences, engineering, and policy within a public university setting.
• Duke University Marine Laboratory: Duke University's coastal campus in Beaufort, NC providing immersive marine science field education and research opportunities for undergraduates and graduates. Directly comparable to MACO/Hatfield MSC as a coastal satellite campus model for delivering hands-on marine field courses.
• Marine Science Institute (UC Santa Barbara): UC Santa Barbara's marine science institute coordinating marine education, research, and outreach across the university. Highly comparable to MACO in serving as a centralized academic support hub for marine and coastal studies within a major public university on the U.S. coast.
• School of Oceanography (University of Washington): University of Washington's oceanography school offering undergraduate and graduate marine science degrees on the Pacific Coast. Directly comparable to OSU's marine offerings due to similar Pacific Northwest location, coastal research infrastructure, and interdisciplinary academic structure.
• School of Marine Sciences (University of Maine): University of Maine's marine sciences school offering interdisciplinary research and education across coastal and ocean sciences. Comparable to MACO as a public university-based marine academic program with strong coastal field station presence on the U.S. East Coast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/maco_osu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MACO_OSU
• Facebookfacebook.com/OregonStateMACO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marinestudies
• Instagraminstagram.com/maco_osu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Marine and Coastal Opportunities - Oregon State University