Scripps Institute of Oceanography

SCRIPPS INSTITUTE OF Oceanographyis the world's preeminent center for ocean and earth research, teaching, and public education. Also known as SIO, Scripps Institute of Oceanography is located in La Jolla, California. The mission of the institute is to seek, teach, and communicate scientific understanding of the oceans, atmosphere, Earth, and other planets for the benefit of society and the environment. A graduate school of the University of California, San Diego, Scripps's leadership in many scientific fields reflects its continuing commitment to excellence in research, modern facilities and ships, distinguished faculty, and outstanding students—and its horizons continue to expand. The institute offers a number of undergraduate and graduate courses in a variety of marine and earth science disciplines.

Research at Scripps encompasses physical, chemical, biological, geological, and geophysical studies. Ongoing investigations include the topography and composition of the seafloor, waves and currents, and the interchanges between the oceans and atmosphere. Scripps's research ships are used in investigations throughout the world's oceans. Today, the Scripps staff of 1,300 includes approximately 100 faculty, 300 other scientists, and some 225 graduate students, with an annual budget of more than $140 million. Other observations and collections are made by ocean devices, airplanes, remotely operated aircraft, land stations, and satellites. Scripps's educational program has grown hand in hand with its research programs. In its most recent survey of graduate schools, the National Research Council ranked Scripps the number one océanographie program in faculty quality, distinction, and scholarly publications.

Instruction is on the graduate level, and students are admitted as candidates for a Ph.D. degree in oceanography, earth sciences, or marine biology. Academic work is conducted through the graduate department and eight curricular groups: biological oceanography, physical oceanography, marine biology, geological sciences, marine chemistry and geochemistry, geophysics, climate sciences, and applied ocean sciences.

The Scripps Institute of Oceanography department offers over 45 undergraduate courses covering a wide breadth of earth and marine sciences on several different levels. There are several introductory classes for nonmajors, as well as upper-division courses intended for a wide range of students in natural science majors. For students interested in careers in earth sciences, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography offers a B.S. degree and a contiguous B.S./M.S. degree in earth sciences. In addition, students may follow a chemistry/earth sciences major, a physics major with a specialization in earth sciences, or an environmental systems/earth sciences major. The program also offers an academic minor in earth sciences.

Scripps is one of the oldest and largest centers for global science research and graduate training in the world. More than 300 research programs are now conducted at the institute, aimed at gaining comprehensive understanding of the oceans, atmosphere, and structure of the Earth.

Oceanography, by its very nature, is interdisciplinary. It spans many sciences including physics, chemistry, geology, biology, meteorology, climatology, and paleontology. Scripps scientists pioneered exploration of the world's marine environments. They are leaders in studies of climate change, plate tectonics, ocean circulation, marine biology and ecology, marine pharmaceuticals, seafloor mapping, seismology, coastal processes, the El Nino phenomenon, biodiversity and conservation, and atmospheric sciences.

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