Sitka Sound Science Center

{{short description|Marine research center in Sitka, Alaska, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox zoo

|zoo_name = Sitka Sound Science Center

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|image = Sage Bldg.jpg

|image_caption = Sage Memorial Building, 834 Lincoln St, Sitka, AK 99835

|location = Sitka, Alaska

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|exhibits = Molly Ahlgren Aquarium

|website = {{URL|sitkascience.org}}

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The Sitka Sound Science Center is a non-profit dedicated to research and education in Alaska in Sitka, Alaska. It is based in the Sage Building, which is located on Lincoln Street across from the old Sheldon Jackson Campus.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxStDgAAQBAJ&dq=sitka+sound+science+center&pg=PA116|title=Alaska on the Go: Exploring the Alaska Marine Highway System with Children|first=Erin|last=Kirkland|date=April 15, 2017|publisher=University of Alaska Press|isbn=9781602233164|via=Google Books}} It is a biological field station and includes the Sheldon Jackson salmon hatchery, the Molly Ahlgren Aquarium, a research lab, classrooms and offices. Sheldon Jackson Salmon Hatchery was the first permitted hatchery in the State of Alaska and built by the students of the college in 1972. SSSC maintains and operates the working hatchery as an aquaculture and educational tool. It is permitted for 3 million pink, 3 million chum and 250,000 coho salmon.

The Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC) was established in 2007 in the old laboratories of Sheldon Jackson College after the college closed in 2007. SSSC employs 15–20 people year round and an additional 12 in the summer months. As a field station, SSSC is a platform for research offering services and facilities to visiting researchers and supporting research that is important locally such as landslides, ocean acidification, salmon, intertidal, and marine geology. It is part of both the Organization for Biological Field Stations and the National Association for Marine Laboratories.{{Cite web|url=http://www.alaska.org/detail/sitka-sound-science-center|title=Sitka Sound Science Center | Salmon Hatchery, Aquarium, Tours|website=Alaska.org}}

The Science Center has a special emphasis on community engagement in science and does significant science communication training for scientists working in Alaska. It has a Scientist in Residence Fellowship (SIRF) program that has been supported by the National Science Foundation and brings scientist to Sitka for a one month mini sabbatical and to learn how to communicate research and work with local, rural Alaska communities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcaw.org/2019/04/22/scientist-in-residence-works-to-unveil-genetics-of-alaska-fish/|title=Scientist in Residence works to unveil genetics of Alaska fish|date=April 22, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcaw.org/2018/11/06/geophysicist-visits-sitka-learns-to-talk-shop/|title=Geophysicist visits Sitka, learns to talk shop|date=November 6, 2018}} In 2014, the Sage building was renovated and in 2020, the Sitka Sawmill building was restored. Both buildings are contributing structures to the Sheldon Jackson Training School National Historic Landmark. The Mill building houses a gift shop and chowder cart in the summer and also is used by the hatchery, education and research departments for storage, machine shop and classes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcaw.org/2018/07/18/rasmuson-foundation-awards-330000-to-revitalize-mill-building/|title=Rasmuson Foundation awards $330,000 to revitalize mill building|date=July 18, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://sitkasentinel.com/7/2012-05-10-22-08-10/14540-april-12-2019-letters-to-the-editor|title=April 12, 2019, Letters to the Editor|website=sitkasentinel.com}} The hatchery was vandalized in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcaw.org/2018/05/09/with-one-turn-of-a-valve-hatchery-vandal-kills-1000-juvenile-coho/|title=With one turn of a valve, hatchery vandal kills 1,000 juvenile coho|date=May 10, 2018}} The Science Center's educational programs are aimed at a breadth of ages from preschool to lifelong learners. It has in school and out of school programs, summer camps, internships and opportunities in mentored research.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alaskapublic.org/2016/08/08/sitka-sound-science-center-students-complete-skeletal-rearticulation-of-sea-lion/|title=Sitka Sound Science Center students complete skeletal rearticulation of sea lion|first1=Katherine|last1=Rose|first2=KCAW-|last2=Sitka|date=August 8, 2016}}