Welcome

The University of Georgia's Marine Education Center and Aquarium (MECA) is the education branch of the Marine Extension Service, providing a resource for students, teachers, and the general public in matters related to Georgia's coastal marine environments. Follow the menu links to learn more about specific programs and activities.

• Georgia's original saltwater aquarium featuring 14 aquaria, dioramas, and interactive exhibits. Renovated in 2007!
  
• Residential and partial-day programs in coastal marine science
  
• Hike on the wheelchair accessible Jay Wolfe Nature Trail & Boardwalk
  
• The R/V Sea Dawg: educational and research vessel page
  
• Professional development workshops / courses for K-12 educators
  
• Visit our Educational Sales Shop
  
• Volunteer opportunities in the aquarium, education programs, and research projects
  
• Videoconferencing programs on marine, estuarine, and coastal science
  

The Marine Extension Service is a unit within the University's Public Service and Outreach office and the School of Marine Programs (Franklin College of Arts & Sciences).

MECA Mission Statement

The University of Georgia's Marine Education Center and Aquarium is a unit of the UGA Public Service and Outreach division and subscribes to the university's motto "to teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things." The mission of our unit is to develop the public's understanding and appreciation of the numerous coastal marine environments in the state of Georgia, and to foster respect for the beauty and complexity of these environments.

We believe that learning is enhanced through the use of a variety of educational practices and resources. Therefore, we maintain exhibits of artifacts and living organisms and we offer various classroom, laboratory, and field based programs, emphasizing direct, experiential education.

We believe that our coastal environments have both intrinsic and human-oriented value. Therefore, we seek to improve the public's understanding of ongoing scientific investigations in these environments, and to create an awareness of ways in which the environments might be altered and their value changed.

We believe that there will be an increased need, in the future, for individuals to have the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about complex environmental issues. Therefore, we are committed to enhancing the quality and scope of our programs in order to serve as an educational resource for the state and region.