UC San Diego's Scripps Institution Receives $7.35M Grant to Study Ocean Health Impact
UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography has received a significant $7.35 million grant from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. This funding will re-establish the Scripps Center for Oceans and Human Health, one of only four such centers nationwide, focusing on the impact of ocean-related health on people.
The center, led by experts from UC San Diego, NOAA, and other institutions, will delve into the sources, fates, and potential toxicity of both human-made and natural chemicals in the ocean. It will also explore how these substances move through the marine food web, with a particular focus on climate change's impact on seafood micronutrients and contaminants.
Researchers, including Prof. Dr. Jennifer M. Schwacke and Dr. Brandon L. Southall, will study how rising sea temperatures and changing food webs affect nutrient and toxin accumulation in marine mammals. The center will also engage with communities, involving fishers, chefs, non-profits, and the public to bridge scientific discovery with everyday life.
The re-established Scripps Center for Oceans and Human Health, backed by $7.35 million in funding, aims to deepen our understanding of the ocean's impact on human health. By studying marine contaminants and nutrients in a changing climate, the center seeks to inform policy and protect both human and marine life.
