Through the Oregon State University Foundation, a $20 million donation has been made by two OSU alumni to establish the Gaulke Center for Marine Innovation and Technology.

This donation comes to OSU from Mike and Judy Gaulke, two OSU graduates.

“Mike Gaulke is an engineer, but they have two homes that are near the ocean,” Scott Ashford, the dean of the College of Engineering said. “They’re very passionate about the health of the oceans … For them, the opportunity through engineering to drive that innovation to help the oceans, it was really a sweet spot for them.”

This donation intends to bring together two of Oregon State’s strongest programs, engineering and oceanography. According to Tuba Ozkan-Haller, the dean of the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, the two programs are already in frequent collaboration. Oftentimes, in order to better understand marine environments, engineers are required to build machinery to conduct studies.

This donation has been specifically made with a project in mind; the opening of a new marine science center alongside a chair to facilitate its research.

“We’re really hoping to attract a hotshot, up and coming rising star,” Ozkan-Haller said. “Who will then help us form a vision for what the rest of the center should look like.”

The center is an intersectional effort between the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and the College of Engineering. Faculty, graduate students and undergraduates will all be able to participate in the center.

One potentially common point of confusion may be the use of the word “center.” According to Cathleen Hockman-Wert, director of communications at the OSU Foundation, there will not be a new building created for the program. It’s comparable to the Global Hemp Innovation Center, or the Moore Family Center for Whole Grain Foods, which also don’t have dedicated buildings.

This isn’t the first time the Gaulkes have established a chair at OSU. In 2012, they established the Gaulke chair of electrical engineering and computer science; Michael himself graduated from the College of Engineering.

A primary focus of the donation is the support of risky pilot studies. Risky in this case doesn’t mean dangerous per se, but ideas that typically are passed on by government grants for their lower chance of financial success.

“Federal funding agencies want their projects to be successful,” said Ashford. “Some projects that might be great ideas but don’t have a lot of data to make it a sure bet for these funding agencies, it’s hard for them to fund.”

Another pillar of the center will be the funding of studies by graduate students. This was specifically requested by the Gaulkes themselves.

For undergraduates in both the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and the College of Engineering, the center will provide valuable experience working in a research environment. As well as potentially providing them with internship opportunities through the center’s professional relationships.

Currently, OSU faculty is beginning the search for someone to fill the position of chair.

Ashford recounted something that Ozkan-Haller said at the event announcing the donation.

“This work of the center can make us famous.”