The 1970’s brought issues of water quality and environmental conservation to the forefront of discussions for many Bay Area residents. However, prior to this time, few opportunities existed for students to get hands-on experience with the San Francisco Bay and bridge the gap between environmental concerns and education. To fill this need, The Marine Science Institute was founded in 1970 based on the philosophy that putting students in direct physical contact with the Bay helps to cultivate their natural sense of curiosity, enrich their understanding of science, and foster a responsibility to protect their local environment. Through programs on the bay shore and coast, aboard their custom-built research vessel moored in Redwood City, and in school classrooms throughout Silicon Valley, MSI has brought hands-on marine science to over 1.2 million students.

Recent grants from Sand Hill Foundation have enabled Marine Science Institute to enhance its school offerings by launching “multiple-exposure” programs in San Mateo County. These programs, which combine more than one field trip or class visit per classroom during the school year, provide K-12 students the opportunity to actively participate in preserving the quality of the San Francisco Bay and the health of their communities.

Support has also been used to strengthen evaluation systems associated with these Next Generation Science Standards-aligned programs. By monitoring how students and their teachers interact with their surrounding marine environment over time, Sand Hill Foundation and the