| Founded | May 1993 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Lon McClanahan Don Newman |
| Type | Non-operating private foundation (IRSexemption status):501(c)(3)[1] |
| Location | |
| Origins | Ocean Studies Institute (OSI) |
Area served | Southern California, United States |
| Method | Donations and Grants[2] |
| Website | scmi.net |
TheSouthern California Marine Institute (SCMI) is a multi-campus research facility andnon-profitoceanographic institution headquartered inTerminal Island,California.
In the late 1960s, marine scientists working at six campuses of theCSU system in theLos Angeles basin (Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge, and Cal Poly Pomona) proposed the formation of an institute that would provide the advancement of marine programs. It was until 1971, when the university system decided to purchase the naval vessel R/V Nautilus for that specific purpose. In 1972, the creation of the Southern California Ocean Studies Consortium (SCOSC) was approved by the Trustees and the Presidents of the founding campuses and the operation of the R/V Nautilus floating marine laboratory began.
The University of California Los Angeles is in partnership with the Institute, thereby increasing marine research in Los Angeles, and providing educational opportunities for its students.[3]
The eleven institutions in the Southern California Marine Institute consortium are:
SCMI operates a fleet of tworesearch vessels, the 76-footR/VYellowfin and the 64-footR/VSea Watch.
33°44′09″N118°16′13″W / 33.735969°N 118.270158°W /33.735969; -118.270158