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About Sea Grant
NOAA National Sea Grant

History of Sea Grant

A Novel Idea: The idea of a Sea Grant College Program was originally suggested by oceanographer, inventor and writer, Dr. Athelstan Spilhaus at the 93rd meeting of the American Fisheries Society in 1963. Interest in the Sea Grant concept grew, much of it sparked by an editorial written by Spilhaus that appeared in a 1964 issue of Science: “ I have suggested the establishment of ‘sea-grant colleges’ in existing universities that wish to develop oceanic work . . . These would be modernized parallels of the great developments in agriculture and the mechanic arts which were occasioned by the Land-Grant Act of about a hundred years ago . . . Establishment of the land-grant colleges was one of the best investments this nation ever made. That same kind of imagination and foresight should be applied to exploitation of the sea.”

Thus, at a time when America was excited about science in general, especially the possibility of reaping sustained economic benefits from the vast resources of the seas, national enthusiasm for the Sea Grant College concept grew. In 1965, Sen. Claiborne Pell of Rhode Island introduced legislation to establish Sea Grant colleges on campuses nationwide as centers of excellence in marine and coastal studies. With the adoption in 1966 of the National Sea Grant College Act, Congress established an academic/industry/government partnership that would enhance the nation's education, economy, and environment into the 21st century.

A Revolutionary Program
Just as our nation’s Land Grant institutions have revolutionized agriculture, so too are the Sea Grant colleges steering our nation toward the productive and sustainable use of our coastal, marine, and Great Lakes resources, through integrated programs of scientific research, education and training, and technical assistance. These programs make available a wealth of information on marine and aquatic topics—from public school curriculum materials to the most advanced scientific research. In short, Sea Grant funds high quality research that is responsive to user needs, bringing university expertise to solve today's marine environmental problems.

The Creation of Sea Grant

1966 President Lyndon Johnson signs the bill, establishing the Sea Grant Program through The National Sea Grant College and Program Act of 1966.

1968 The work of Sea Grant begins as the first grants are awarded and the National Review Panel is established.

1970 Sea Grant becomes part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The National Sea Grant Depository (Library) is established as an information center dedicated to the collection, storage, documentation, and dissemination of Sea Grant literature.

1971 Four universities are the first to achieve Sea Grant College status: Oregon State University, University of Rhode Island, Texas A & M University, and University of Washington.

1972 University of Hawaii and University of Wisconsin achieve College status. University of Southern California becomes an Institutional Program.

1973 University of California achieves College status.

1975 State University of New York and Cornell University achieve College status.

1976 The Sea Grant Improvement Act amends the National Sea Grant College and Program Act of 1966. The amendment strengthens the basic program of the original Act and codifies the National Sea Grant Review Panel. University of Delaware, State University System of Florida, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of North Carolina achieve College status.

1978 Louisiana State University achieves College status.

1979 The Sea Grant Intern Program is initiated, allowing outstanding graduate students to spend one year in Washington, D.C., developing the skills needed for active leadership in both policy development and research in coastal and ocean sciences.

1980 University of Alaska, University of Georgia, and University of Maine/University of New Hampshire achieve College status.

1982 University of Maryland, University of Michigan/ Michigan State University, and Mississippi/ Alabama Consortium achieve College status.

1984 Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium achieves College status.

1985 University of Minnesota achieves College status; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution becomes an Institutional Program.

1986 South Carolina Consortium achieves College status.

1987 The Sea Grant Intern Program was renamed the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship in honor of Dean Knauss, one of the founding fathers of Sea Grant.

1988 The Ohio State University and the University of Connecticut achieve College status.

1989 New Jersey Marine Science Consortium and University of Puerto Rico achieve College status.

1997 University of Illinois/Purdue University achieves College status.

1998 NOAA celebrates Sea Grant’s 30th anniversary commemorating three decades of accomplishment in research, education and outreach related to coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources. The year is proclaimed by the United Nations as the "International Year of the Ocean."

1998
A performance-based evaluation system is established. Resources allocated to programs are determined in part by performance.

1999 Sea Grant and NOAA Fisheries established a Graduate Fellowship Program in population dynamics and marine resource economics.

2002 NOAA Sea Grant reauthorization signed into law after unanimous passage in both houses of Congress.

2002 Sea Grant Law Center is founded.

2003
University of New Hampshire achieves College status.

2004 University of Maine achieves College status.



 

 

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