PORT TOWNSEND — A co-founder of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center is the new educator at the Natural History Exhibit.

Judy D’Amore was one of a group of volunteers who founded the science center on the beach at Fort Worden State Park in 1982.

In her new position, funded by the Murdock Trust, D’Amore will focus on developing programs and managing the Natural History Exhibit. She began her new position on April 5.

“Becoming a staff member feels like coming home to an institution that has grow up a lot since I left it to do other things several years ago,” D’Amore said.

“Its mission hasn’t changed that much, but its professionalism has a great deal.”

D’Amore said she feels that the addition of natural history and geology to the marine topics already being taught adds a new dimension to the learning experience at the marine science center.

Under D’Amore’s leadership, the marine science center will offer earth science and natural science programming that dovetails with form school instruction.

“By adding natural history and geology to the marine topics we teach about, we’re giving the learning experience a whole new dimension,” D’Amore said.