Foreword to the special issue on Sea Grant: Science serving America’s coastlines and people

Abstract

The National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) delivers rigorous scientific research, extension expertise, and education to the coastal and Great Lakes regions of the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Sea Grant’s mission is to enhance the practical use and conservation of coastal, marine, and Great Lakes resources in order to create a sustainable economy and environment. Operating through a network of 34 programs embedded in and tailored to their regions, Sea Grant supports and draws on the work of researchers at universities and colleges across the country to build a sound scientific foundation for the use and preservation of the nation’s coastal and Great Lakes resources. The Sea Grant model leverages a combination of research, extension, and education to allow for an integrated co-production approach to problem-solving and capturing opportunities that often include the development of new technologies and innovative approaches.