South Carolina Aquarium

THIS PROJECT WILL MODERNIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUMS STATEWIDE OUTREACH AND VIRTUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS BY INTEGRATING EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (E.G., VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS, 3D PRINTERS, MOBILE AQUARIUM TOUCH TANKS, UPGRADED LIVESTREAM EQUIPMENT) INTO STANDARDS-ALIGNED STEM CURRICULUM, UPGRADING OUTREACH VEHICLES, TRAINING STAFF, AND DEPLOYING ENHANCED PROGRAMMING THROUGH A PHASED, ONE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION THAT INCLUDES PROCUREMENT, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, PILOT TESTING, AND FULL-SCALE ROLLOUT. KEY DELIVERABLES INCLUDE NEWLY EQUIPPED OUTREACH AND VIRTUAL PROGRAM PLATFORMS, UPDATED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ALIGNED TO STATE STANDARDS, EXPANDED PROGRAM OFFERINGS, UPFIT OUTREACH VEHICLES AND A TRAINED EDUCATION TEAM CAPABLE OF DELIVERING TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED INSTRUCTION. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY STEM LEARNING, IMPROVED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND SCIENCE LITERACY, STRENGTHENED AWARENESS OF OCEAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CAREER PATHWAYS, AND EXPANDED REACH TO RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS ALL 46 COUNTIES. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES ARE K12 STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA WHO WILL GAIN EQUITABLE ACCESS TO IMMERSIVE, INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION EXPERIENCES THAT SUPPORT LONG-TERM WORKFORCE READINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

THE SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM WILL PARTNER WITH SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY TO IMPLEMENT A PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT FOR UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN THE AQUARIUM FIELD. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FORMALIZING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY, TRAINING FOR ALL STAFF WHO SUPERVISE INTERNS, RECRUITING NEW INTERN APPLICANTS, IMPLEMENTING A NEW INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND DEVELOPING AN INFORMAL PEER SUPPORT SYSTEM. THE PROJECT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM DESIGN, INTERVIEW AND SELECTION TECHNIQUES, AND EVALUATION INSTRUMENTS TO ENSURE THEY ARE CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND RELEVANT TO INTENDED OUTCOMES OF THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THE NEW INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WILL ESTABLISH A PIPELINE FOR UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS TO ADVANCE CAREERS IN THE AQUARIUM FIELD.

RESILIENCE INITIATIVE

CONG. SETASIDES, MUSEUMS

EVALUATION AND STATUS OF RARE FRESHWATER MUSSELS (FAMILY UNIONIDAE) IN CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK

THE AQUARIUM OFFERS A VERY IMPRESSIVE PORTFOLIO OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS, WHICH HAVE STATEWIDE IMPACT. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY STRATEGIC IN THEIR APPROACH, AND THEY ARE CLEARLY ADVOCATES FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.