Highline’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) is more than just an aquarium with hundreds of species of native marine life, it is a view into the greater oceanic world around us.
Rus Higley, MaST’s director and knowledgeable caretaker, is a professor of marine biology. His work at the center allows all who enter a chance to have a deeper connection with these creatures living in the Puget Sound.
Last Wednesday, the Thunderword had the opportunity to sit down with Higley and discuss his 23 years as director. No doubt, he would brush past these long descriptions of his tenure, his vision fixed not on platitudes.
For Higley, his work is focused on educating his students and MaST visitors and providing the knowledge to help anyone blossom an interest in conservationism. His draw to the deep is innate, and has always been on his mind.
“As a kid I always wanted to be a marine biologist, and if you were to ask me what my dream job is, I’m doing it,” said Higley. In fact, his own fascination with the ocean was front and center in this week’s ThunderPod, linked here if you haven’t had the pleasure of listening.
Another prolonging factor for his work, “[What] excites me is that I get to be a voice for the environment. I get to talk to people and help them realize how connected they are. People get excited when they get in here, and see the animals.”
The center is the spark to start the longer conversation surrounding conservation.
“One of the things I truly believe is that if you don’t have information, or good information you can’t make a choice. Here at the MaST center our mission is…education,” said Higley.
The center provides several displays that prompt this education. Chief among them is a 38-foot gray whale skeleton that greets you at the entrance. Along with the opportunity to see the remains, several exhibits line the walls detailing possible causes of the animals death.
Among the contents of his stomach is a single-use plastic bag. While the determining cause of the whale’s death is unknown, this does bring pause. Its presence is a stark reminder our actions have consequences.
“Our choices matter, and we are a part of this. You don’t have to be a marine biologist to have a passion about the ocean,’’ Higley explains.
The MaST center uses what is all around us to engage in this conversation. It allows goers the chance to connect directly with the animals that live alongside us. Through touching a starfish, or examining aquatic bones, for any visitor of the MaST center, one thing becomes extremely clear.
“We live in a beautiful world, we live in a beautiful part of the world… literally right now under our feet, have you been in it?”