Marine Science Research Institute

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"Taking the Pulse of our Coastal Ocean"
hosted by Marine Science Research Institute Jacksonville Univesity 
JULY 7 - 12, 2008

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Click to download Application (Word doc)

The heart and soul of Jacksonville and Duval County is the St. Johns River with its confluence of three unique marine and aquatic environments. The freshwater of the river, the brackish marshes of the Intracoastal Waterway and the marine environment of the Atlantic Ocean combine as the base for the uniqueness of our area. Our history and future as a community are based on a healthy river, dynamic waterway and prodigious oceanfront.

As part of an effort to preserve and protect Jacksonville’s most significant natural asset, Jacksonville University has established a new Marine Science Research Institute (MSRI) on the banks of the St. Johns River. The goal is to provide a premier biological and environmental research and education facility. Since our local waters share concerns and issues with similar ecosystems nationwide, the research work accomplished at the JU MSRI will have national benefits.

The concept for establishing the MSRI on the JU campus dates to 1998. It began as collaboration between Jacksonville University, Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville Marine Charities, the National Park Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Representatives from each organization recognized the need to provide a facility in northeast Florida that could provide students the opportunity to study natural sciences in a field-experiential setting.  The completed MSRI will house the St. Johns Riverkeeper office, along with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Northeast Florida Fisheries Laboratory, the JU Sailing Program and our exciting new high school marine education program in conjunction with Duval County Public Schools.