How Klamath Basin students hand-built a wildfire command bus

Inside the Oregon coast's hands-on marine science center

A home slug is part of many sea creatures featured at the Charleston Marine Life Center on the campus of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Coos Bay. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5dd2e46/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x856+0+0/resize/792x353!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe2%2F01%2Fa046c16e4eb48909b896e74be501%2Fcharleston-marine-life-center-homeslug-tightcrop.png]A home slug is part of many sea creatures featured at the Charleston Marine Life Center on the campus of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Coos Bay. (Charleston Marine Life Center ) Visitors to the Charleston Marine Life Center can touch tidepool animals, examine the skeletons of whales and learn about marine life found along the Oregon coast — all while getting a behind-the-scenes look at research taking place next door. Located on the campus of the University of Oregon's Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, the center opened in 2016 to connect the public with marine science through interactive exhibits and educational programs. "Our primary mission is to serve as an education resource," Director Trish Mace said. "It's a very interactive place, but it's all geared to informing people about the remarkable diversity of marine life here on the Oregon coast." The center features touch tanks, a 10-foot humpback whale skull and the skeletons of orcas and gray whales. Students from the institute also gain hands-on experience caring for animals and communicating science to visitors. The center also partners with the Coquille Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians on programs that combine marine science with traditional ecological knowledge. "We work with the Coquille Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw on a range of education projects where we work to get youth outdoors and combine marine science and traditional knowledge," Mace said. "We work with the Coquille Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw on a range of education projects where we work to get youth outdoors and combine marine science and traditional knowledge," Mace said. Pictured is a Matacarcinus magister. One of many sea creatures on display at the Charleston Marine Life Center in Coos Bay, Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/519bbb5/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1280+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2Fbb%2F1c046f1042fbaedd9a392118a80c%2Fcharleston-marine-life-center-metacarcinus-magister.jpg] Pictured is a Matacarcinus magister. One of many sea creatures on display at the Charleston Marine Life Center in Coos Bay, Oregon. (Courtesy of the Charleston Marine Life Center ) Admission is free for students from preschool through graduate school. Mace said she hopes to strengthen the center's partnerships and ensure it remains a long-term resource for the South Coast. "My goal would be to help make sure the center is on stable financial footing so that we can be here as a longtime resource and to broaden all the partnerships so that it really is a community center," she said. GUEST * Trish Mace, director, Charleston Marine Life Center

Oregon's native turtles are imperiled by invasive snapping turtles

A common snapping turtle crosses the road. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c9e5e9/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1129x672+0+0/resize/792x471!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2F32%2Fff89b0e44529bd845850b505e25e%2Fcommon-snapping-turtle-crossing-road.png]A common snapping turtle crosses the road. (https://turtlesurvival.org/turtle-of-the-week-arakan-forest-turtle-copy-copy-copy/ ) Large snapping turtles native to the eastern United States have been spotted in the Lower Rogue River, raising concerns about their impact on native wildlife. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently confirmed sightings about 23 miles downstream from Grants Pass. Regional conservation biologist Jade Keehn said the invasive reptiles compete with native species [https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/r-a-i-n-rogue-aquatic-invasives-network], prey on juvenile salmon and northwestern pond turtles, and can introduce new parasites into local ecosystems. The common snapping turtle can weigh 40lbs and live from 40 to 100 years. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b370780/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1074x800+0+0/resize/709x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Ffe%2Fc72d8ce146439165398e6d8ffe55%2Fcommon-snapping-turtle.png]The common snapping turtle can weigh 40lbs and live from 40 to 100 years. (https://nhturtlerescue.org/info/turtle-crossing/snapping-turtle ) "If we don't control the problem quickly, these turtles can start reproducing in the wild," Keehn said. "We're working to prevent that from happening in the Rogue River." Unlike Oregon's native Northwestern pond turtle, snapping turtles are aggressive ambush predators. Keehn said they can weigh up to 40 pounds and are known for their powerful bite. Their flexible necks allow them to strike well beyond the edge of their shells, making them dangerous for members of the public to handle. Snapping turtles are easy to recognize by their large bodies, serrated shells and long, spiked tails. Keehn said their relatively small lower shells leave much of their bodies exposed, making them more defensive when they're out of the water. A biologist holds an adult male northwestern pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) captured as part of a long-term monitoring study in southern Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/169c458/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2048x1536+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2d%2F04%2F697ec399499581919ab7c176b0ee%2Fimg-4110.JPEG]A biologist holds an adult male northwestern pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) captured as part of a long-term monitoring study in southern Oregon. (Courtesy of ODFW ) "It reminds me of a very large person in a very small life jacket," she said. ODFW believes the turtles likely entered the Rogue after being released by pet owners. Keehn said snapping turtles can live 40 to 100 years, and owners sometimes release them after they outgrow their aquariums. "Not to vilify them too much because they are incredibly cool creatures," Keehn said. "But in Oregon, there can only be one winner, and it needs to be the northwestern pond turtle." People who spot a turtle with a serrated shell and long, spiked tail should report it to ODFW or through the iNaturalist app [https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/oregon-wildlife-conservation]. Keehn said the agency is also encouraging people never to release unwanted pets or other aquatic species into the wild. GUEST * Jade Keehn, regional conservation biologist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife As of 2025, the Oregon Zoo has raised and released 850 Northwest pond turtles into the wild. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a60156c/2147483647/strip/false/crop/660x437+0+0/resize/660x437!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2Ffc%2F2a8e5b434034b88df92e8e18a05c%2Fnorthwest-pond-turtle.png] As of 2025, the Oregon Zoo has raised and released 850 Northwest pond turtles into the wild.(https://www.oregonzoo.org/animals/northwestern-pond-turtle)

How Klamath Basin students hand-built a wildfire command bus

Henley High School students retrofitted a school bus and transformed it into a mobile command center for the Klamath Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Kristi Lebkowski, Ph.D. (far left) is the engineering and robotics instructor at Henley who led the two-year project. Graduating student Dylan Orr (fourth from right) was the student leader on the project, which included 80 students. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e142327/2147483647/strip/false/crop/5004x2952+0+0/resize/792x467!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2Fb1%2F16f5106d4d738bc06ef3ed8f11d1%2Fhenley-hs-bus-retrofit-kristi-lebkowski-dylan-orr.jpg]Henley High School students retrofitted a school bus and transformed it into a mobile command center for the Klamath Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Kristi Lebkowski, Ph.D. (far left) is the engineering and robotics instructor at Henley who led the two-year project. Graduating student Dylan Orr (fourth from right) was the student leader on the project, which included 80 students. (Courtesy of Kristi Lebkowski ) For the past two years, students at Henley High School have transformed a retired school bus into a mobile command center that Oregon firefighters will use during wildfire season. About 80 students, led by engineering and robotics instructor Kristi Lebkowsky and student leader Dylan Orr, recently handed the completed vehicle over to the Oregon Department of Forestry. The project, developed through Team Oregon Build and the Southern Oregon STEM Hub, was designed to give firefighters a dedicated workspace for planning operations in the field. The bus includes custom-built workstations, a 12-volt battery system and a Starlink satellite internet system to provide connectivity in remote areas. Lebkowsky said the project reflects the program's emphasis on giving students hands-on engineering experience while meeting community needs. "We really aim to take our projects to the next level and have community impact whenever we can," she said. Pictured is the interior of a retrofitted school bus by 80 students at Henley High School at the completion of a project spanning two years. The project, led by Kristi Lebkowski, Ph.D., Henley's engineering and robotics instructor, transformed the bus into a mobile command center for the Klamath Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7e546bb/2147483647/strip/false/crop/5712x4284+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7d%2Fe7%2F55647b5042d8bd3abc1b97a67232%2Fhenley-hs-2-bus-retrofit-kristi-lebkowski-dylan-orr.jpg]Pictured is the interior of a retrofitted school bus by 80 students at Henley High School at the completion of a project spanning two years. The project, led by Kristi Lebkowski, Ph.D., Henley's engineering and robotics instructor, transformed the bus into a mobile command center for the Klamath Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry. (Courtesy of Kristi Lebkowski ) For Orr, the project was an opportunity to help address a challenge familiar to many in Southern Oregon. "I've lived in the Klamath Basin my whole life, and I've known wildfires for a really long time," Orr said. "It was really inspiring to see that we could make a change on this issue and have a lasting impact on our community." Lebkowsky said the project also showcased collaboration among local businesses, educators and students. Although the mobile command center is complete and ready for use, the team is still seeking funding for a final exterior paint job. GUESTS * Kristi Lebkowski, engineering and robotics instructor, Henley High School * Dylan Orr, student leader on mobile command center project, Henley High School

How art is connecting people with the Siskiyou Crest

The Siskiyou Crest Coalition has an artist in residence program in which they host an artist for five days in their Acorn Woman lookout which has 360 degree views of the surrounding landscape. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7802cea/2147483647/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2F83%2F33d9732143ba8aea27b102a00d7a%2Fsunset-at-e-acorn-women-lookout-2-credit-luke-ruediger.jpeg] The Siskiyou Crest Coalition has an artist in residence program in which they host an artist for five days in their Acorn Woman lookout which has 360 degree views of the surrounding landscape.(https://siskiyoucrestcoalition.org/siskiyou-crest-artist-in-residence-program/) An artist is spending time atop a historic fire lookout in the Siskiyou Mountains, using art to help people connect with one of the Pacific Northwest's most biologically diverse landscapes. The Siskiyou Crest Coalition has launched the second year of its Artist in Residence program at Acorn Woman Lookout in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The program invites artists to spend five days at the historic lookout creating work inspired by the surrounding landscape while raising awareness of conservation efforts in the region. Luke Ruediger, a volunteer with the Siskiyou Crest Coalition and executive director of the Applegate Siskiyou Alliance, said the residency was created to help people appreciate a landscape that often goes unnoticed. "One of the things we've realized is that the Siskiyou Crest is kind of a remote and forgotten region," Ruediger said. "We really need to build that connection between people and place." The Siskiyou Crest Coalition hosts an artist in residency for five days at Acorn Woman lookout. The combination of science and art expands the reach and accessibility of the coalition's conservation work with communities across the region. Cody Merkelz is the 2026 Artist in Residence. Sarah Burns was the first for the Coalition in 2025. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7f61950/2147483647/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdd%2F83%2F802cefe64345806c87d231e2e357%2Fcodymarkelz-scc-artistinresidencesunset.JPG]The Siskiyou Crest Coalition hosts an artist in residency for five days at Acorn Woman lookout. The combination of science and art expands the reach and accessibility of the coalition's conservation work with communities across the region. Cody Merkelz is the 2026 Artist in Residence. Sarah Burns was the first for the Coalition in 2025. (Cody Merkelz) The Siskiyou Crest is the only major east-west mountain range in the Pacific Northwest, linking the Coast Ranges and Cascade Mountains. The coalition says that connection, combined with varied geology and climate, has created one of the region's richest centers of biodiversity. "You just have this blending of ecosystems, of climates, of environments and a diversity of geologic strata that create this world-class biodiversity in the Siskiyou Crest region," Ruediger said. This year's artist-in-residence, Cody Markelz, is a scientist and illustrator whose work combines natural history, field sketches and educational zines. During his residency, he compared the ecology around Acorn Woman Lookout with landscapes near his home in Northern California. "Being a scientist and an artist, this was a perfect place to examine these different types of gradients and to get inspiration both scientifically and artistically," Markelz said. Illustrations by Cody Merkelz. He was an artist in residence with the Siskiyou Crest Coalition in 2026. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a365241/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2184x1642+0+0/resize/702x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2F24%2F6d20707e405cb7ebea7222ebbc98%2Fcodymarkelz-scc-artistinresidence-zinepage.png]Illustrations by Cody Merkelz. He was an artist in residence with the Siskiyou Crest Coalition in 2026. (Cody Merkelz ) Markelz spent five days alone at the lookout, observing wildlife, sketching and journaling. One encounter stood out. "I was rewarded a couple days later when I found a baby rattlesnake," he said. "It stayed still, and I was able to sketch it live." Markelz will discuss his residency and share artwork created during his stay at two free public presentations this weekend. EVENTS * Saturday, June 27, at 1 p.m. at the Rogue Gallery & Art Center [https://www.facebook.com/events/1533522708291246] in Medford, Markelz will share sketches, artwork and the illustrated zine he created during his residency, along with the science and ecology that inspired the project. * Sunday, June 28, at 2 p.m. at ScienceWorks [https://www.facebook.com/events/2467309570375797] in Ashland, Markelz will discuss how art, science and the Siskiyou Crest landscape intersect. GUESTS * Luke Ruediger, volunteer for Siskiyou Crest Coalition and executive director at Applegate Siskiyou Alliance * Cody Markelz, artist in residence, Siskiyou Crest Coalition

Why conservationists are suing to protect one of the Pacific's largest sea stars

Sunflower sea stars can grow to three feet wide and have up to 24 arms. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e415b2d/2147483647/strip/false/crop/999x665+0+0/resize/792x527!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb1%2F00%2F33139b0d4e02b36e44a6f7ff2d66%2Frssunflower-sea-star-courtesy-national-park-service-public-domain-fpwc-media-use-ok.jpg]Sunflower sea stars can grow to three feet wide and have up to 24 arms. (National Park Service / NPS) The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the federal government, alleging the National Marine Fisheries Service missed a legal deadline to decide whether to protect the sunflower sea star under the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks to compel the agency to issue a final listing decision after it proposed protecting the species in 2023 but failed to meet its statutory deadline. Once common from Alaska to Southern California, the species has declined by about 90% since 2013, according to the conservation group. Sunflower sea stars can grow up to three feet wide and have up to 24 arms. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0527248/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1000x750+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F84%2F92531e6f4af09cbb6550dceda4fa%2Fsunflower-star.jpg]Sunflower sea stars can grow up to three feet wide and have up to 24 arms. (Center for Biological Diversity ) Scientists say sea star wasting disease has driven much of the decline. The disease causes lesions, limb loss and death, and research suggests warming ocean temperatures have made outbreaks more severe, raising concerns about the species' ability to recover. Sunflower sea stars are among the Pacific Coast's primary predators of sea urchins. Scientists say their decline has allowed urchin populations to expand, contributing to the loss of kelp forests that provide habitat for fish, invertebrates and other marine life. Miyoko Sakashita [https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/about/staff/#], oceans program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said federal protections are needed before the species declines further. "I love sunflower sea stars," Sakashita said. "They are this massive sea star. If you stretch out your arms, that's about how far across they are, and they can have up to 24 arms. They look like a super star." If the species is listed under the Endangered Species Act, federal officials would be required to develop a recovery plan and could designate critical habitat. Conservation advocates say those protections could also help address threats from pollution, dredging and coastal development. NOAA spokesperson Micheal Milstein told the Alaska Beacon [https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/06/23/lawsuit-aims-to-put-sunflower-sea-stars-on-endangered-species-list/] that the agency is continuing work on the proposed listing. "At this time, NOAA Fisheries has not yet completed our work on the Center for Biological Diversity's proposal to list the sunflower sea star under the Endangered Species Act," Milstein said. He said the agency is prioritizing its available resources while continuing its responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act. If the court rules in favor of the Center for Biological Diversity, it could require the agency to issue a final decision on whether the sunflower sea star should receive federal protections. GUEST * Miyoko Sakashita, Oceans Program Director, Center for Biological Diversity