Bruce and Mary Lou Mate Animal-borne Technology Faculty Scholar

A world-renowned expert in marine mammal research, Bruce is best known for pioneering the use of satellite-monitored radio tags to track endangered whales. He has conducted marine mammal research since 1967, beginning his OSU career in 1972 as a post-doctoral scholar. He became an oceanography faculty member based in Newport, Oregon, in 1976. 

From 1983 to 2019, Bruce led the Marine Mammal Program's foundational research laboratory, the Whale Telemetry Group. He held an endowed chair in OSU’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and  directed the Marine Mammal Institute from its inception in 2006 until 2019, overseeing its transformation into a highly respected, globally recognized institute — the second largest in the world for the study of marine mammals. 

Mary Lou, a registered nurse, actively supported her husband’s work throughout the years, including co-hosting annual whale expeditions. After her retirement, she became a part-time research assistant at the Marine Mammal Institute.