Scientists and staff of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s (UMD) Large Lakes Observatory (LLO) invite the community to board and tour the Blue Heron research vessel for 2026 Science on Deck events.
Every summer, LLO hosts Science On Deck events, offering these free public tours and presentations on the vessel. The Blue Heron is part of the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS), and is chartered by research scientists to explore the Great Lakes.
Science on Deck is free and open to the public (other than May 14, which is for local schools only).
Science on Deck’s 2026 Season
- Thursday, May 14, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.: Local and regional schools only (not open to the public). Location: Pier B Resort, 800 W. Railroad St., Duluth.
- Friday, June 26, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.: Featuring guided tours by research vessel crew and interaction with graduate students presenting freshwater research displays.
- Catherine O’Reilly, PhD, director of the Large Lakes Observatory, will present “Underwater Soundscapes” at 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Pier B Resort, 800 W. Railroad St., Duluth.
- Friday, July 17, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.: A collaborative “Libraries Love Lakes” event with the Duluth Public Library.
- Includes crew-led tours, graduate student displays, and special guest author appearances from Alex Messenger at 11:30 a.m. and Margi Preus at 1:30 p.m.
- Location: (DECC) Twin Ports Harbor near the Great Lakes Aquarium, 353 Harbor Dr., Duluth.
- Friday, August 28, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.: Free public tours and research displays.
- At 1:30 p.m., Craig Hill, PhD, will present “The Waves on the Great Lakes: Energy and Observations”.
- Location: (DECC) Twin Ports Harbor near the Great Lakes Aquarium, 353 Harbor Dr., Duluth.
- Friday, September 18, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.: Free public tours and research displays.
- At 1:30 p.m., Ted Ozersky, PhD, will present “What Lakes Do In Winter”.
- Location: (DECC) Twin Ports Harbor near the Great Lakes Aquarium, 353 Harbor Dr., Duluth.
For more information, visit the Science on Deck event page online or reach out to Lisa Sundberg, outreach coordinator with Large Lakes Observatory and ship steward of the R/V Blue Heron, at 218-726-8683 or sundb103@d.umn.edu.
About the Large Lakes Observatory:
As an academic and research unit within the University of Minnesota Duluth, the Large Lakes Observatory (LLO) is the only institute in the country dedicated to the study of large lakes throughout the world. LLO focuses on the global implications of investigations in the areas of aquatic chemistry, circular dynamics, geochemistry, acoustic remote sensing, plankton dynamics, sedimentology and paleoclimatology.
LLO serves as a scientific hub focused on assessing the health of large-lake ecosystems, providing data that can guide policy for protecting these invaluable bodies of freshwater as our global environment evolves.
