Newsroom

CORVALLIS - Oregon State University marine mammal expert Bruce Mate will be featured in an upcoming episode of Sci-Trek Saturday on the Discovery Channel.

Mate, known worldwide for his work using satellite technology to track whale migrations, is part of an episode titled "The Science of Whales," which explores the use of advanced technology to study the planet's largest mammals. It is not the first time Mate and his work have been featured on television.

"It's the charisma of the animals I study," he explained.

From his home base at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Mate uses computers to observe the migrations of several whale species, once he has tagged the animals with small satellite-monitored transmitters. The work is providing new details about the critical habitats and dive habits of whales which have previously been hidden from view.

The Discovery Channel footage was shot this March while he was in Mexico tagging humpback whales.

"The Science of Whales" is scheduled to air on the Discovery Channel at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, with repeat showings at 1 a.m. Aug. 2 and 5 p.m. Aug. 8.