Millions of visitors to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., each year will learn more about ocean science education thanks to a unique partnership between URI’s Office of Marine Programs, which leads the national Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence Network, and the new Sant Ocean Hall in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. The permanent exhibition explores the ancient, diverse, and constantly changing nature of the ocean, the historical connections humans have had with it, and the ways in which we are impacting the ocean today.

A new staff member, hired jointly by the national network and the Smithsonian, is working with URI’s Gail Scowcroft, the network’s director, to develop ocean science education programming.