We had a leisurely wake up and headed down to Stanford's Hopkins Marine Lab to meet their impressive faculty and students. First we were indulged in a lecture and discussion with Dr. Steve Palumbi on using genetic variation in gray whales (the most abundant whale on the west coast) to estimate historic population sizes.
Next we scurried across the campus in the crisp air to the Block Tuna Center. Dr. Barbara Block was out of town, so her students and technicians gave us the royal treatment tour. We observed the mid-morning feeding frenzy and a yellowfin dissection by some UC-SF med students doing heart research. We were enlightened by hearing about their on-going tagging (Tag-a-Giant) and metabolic studies.
Our last stop at Hopkins was chatting with a PhD in the Block lab, George Shillinger, about his leatherback sea turtle research. Working with the Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) program George tagged leatherbacks down in Baja.
It was a very full morning and after digesting all of this new information we parted ways to fill our bellies. We reconvened on Cannery Row to listen to Larry's version of Ricketts' biography in front of "Doc's" lab.
We returned to Hopkins for their TGIFriday evening cookout and happy hour to socialize with the grad students. There were some impressive burgers and delicious pies shared. After we went out to toast an amazing week and to lament our return to EST.
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