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CORVALLIS - A three-day open house from Oct. 16-18 at the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Lab on the Oregon State University Campus will provide a unique opportunity for the general public to see the largest and most-wired tsunami wave basin in the world, the longest wave channel in North America, and 20-ton concrete bridge girders being tested to the breaking point on a unique strong floor.

The hangar-sized Hinsdale lab, located at the southwest corner of 35th Street and Jefferson, is part of the OSU College of Engineering's Kiewit Center for Infrastructure and Transportation. The open house will showcase the facility, including the new $4.8-million Tsunami Wave Basin that was just completed this fall, as well as the two other wave tanks and the strong floor.

"Many people drive by this building all the time but have no idea about what happens inside," said Dan Cox, director of the Hinsdale lab and a professor of ocean engineering at OSU. "Engineering students and faculty are doing world-class research here, which is helping mitigate beach erosion, improve tsunami warning systems, and design safer bridges, piers, breakwaters and more.

"We see education and outreach as an important part of what we do," Cox added, "so we want to give the general public a chance to see the lab in action."

The free open house will coincide with Dad's Weekend at OSU, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. All ages are welcome, and reservations are not required for groups smaller than 20.

For more information, visit http://wave.oregonstate.edu.