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Ocean Discovery Institute Ocean Discovery Institute uses ocean science to empower young people from underserved urban community The U.S.

Ocean Discovery Institute - Young Lives Transformed Through Science

The poor performance of American students in science has been recognized as a national crisis. Department of Education reports that when tested for science knowledge, U.S. high school students ranked in the bottom seven of all countries tested. The current educational structure results in large groups of students who are significantly underprepared to pursue education and careers in the sciences. Students of color and low-income students are far less likely to receive science education and to pursue the higher education necessary for most science- and technology-based careers. Deficiencies in science education have far reaching consequences for our country. In today’s globalized economy, America’s competitiveness increasingly depends on a diverse workforce well-educated in science, engineering and technology. Experts have concluded that the greatest prospect to increase the size and quality of our scientific workforce is to provide opportunity to the untapped talent in underrepresented groups. We must attract more students to science earlier, particularly those who historically have not been drawn to the field, and hold their interest, providing the resources and support they need to advance to college and successful careers. These issues and trends are especially acute in San Diego. Science- and technology-based careers represent many of the fastest growing and highest wage job sectors in the region. With over 500 biomedical companies and billions invested in research, San Diego is a place of great opportunity in the sciences. However, large numbers of San Diego’s children are not receiving the science education necessary to pursue career opportunities in these fields and California tests 2nd from the bottom in the United States. Ocean Discovery Institute was created 10 years ago to leverage San Diego’s natural environments as a means to engage young people from underserved communities and inspire them to become part of the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders. Many of our high school graduates are on their way; currently achieving higher education at leading institutions including:

•Brown University
•University of California Berkeley
•University of California Davis
•University of California Los Angeles
•University of California Santa Barbara
•University of California San Diego
•University of California Santa Cruz
•University of San Diego
•San Diego State University

✨ First times open the door to new possibilities.For our Ocean Leaders, a recent visit to ASML was full of firsts: their...
10/15/2026

✨ First times open the door to new possibilities.

For our Ocean Leaders, a recent visit to ASML was full of firsts: their first behind-the-scenes look at semiconductor technology, their first time seeing the advanced machines that help manufacture the chips powering our world, and an opportunity to connect with professionals and ask questions about careers in science and technology.

These moments matter. Every new experience helps students connect what they learn through hands-on science to the world around them and imagine new possibilities for their own futures.

A huge thank you to our partners at ASML for welcoming our high school Ocean Leaders and helping them discover what’s possible!

🌊 The first time students learn about erosion and wetlands is right here at the Living Lab!And these are just a few of t...
10/14/2026

🌊 The first time students learn about erosion and wetlands is right here at the Living Lab!

And these are just a few of the many first-time moments that shape a student’s education. From exploring coastal ecosystems to discovering how science connects to the world around them, hands-on experiences spark curiosity, build confidence, and open the door to new possibilities.

Because sometimes, one first experience is all it takes to spark a lifelong curiosity about science. 🔬

This week, we had the honor of welcoming USD Provost James Antony to our Living Lab to see our programs in action.Visits...
10/08/2026

This week, we had the honor of welcoming USD Provost James Antony to our Living Lab to see our programs in action.

Visits like this give our partners an opportunity to experience firsthand what becomes possible when we invest in young people and give them meaningful opportunities to explore science.

Our anchor partnership with the University of San Diego helps create pathways for students to learn by doing, connect with scientists and mentors, and begin imagining themselves in futures they may not have thought possible.

We’re grateful to Provost Antony for believing in what’s possible when opportunity meets talent, because when students are given the opportunity to experience science, they don’t just see a future in science; they begin to see themselves as part of it.

These are the future scientists, innovators, and leaders our world needs.

What happens when students get to build, experiment, and imagine what’s possible? 🤖For our students, building a robot de...
10/06/2026

What happens when students get to build, experiment, and imagine what’s possible? 🤖

For our students, building a robot designed to help clean up our ocean may be their first hands-on engineering experience.

These moments spark curiosity and imagination and help students see that science isn’t just something they learn. It’s something they can do.

Through our free In-School Program, we’re creating those first experiences every day during the school day at all of our 13 schools in the Hoover Cluster.

This is where it begins.

Sometimes, a trip is about more than getting somewhere. ✈️It’s about seeing something new. Asking new questions. Meeting...
10/02/2026

Sometimes, a trip is about more than getting somewhere. ✈️

It’s about seeing something new. Asking new questions. Meeting new people. And realizing there’s a whole world waiting to be explored.

Thanks to Southwest Airlines, our students have had opportunities to travel beyond City Heights and experience the world in ways that can shape how they see themselves and their futures.

We’re grateful for partners who help our students go farther and reach new heights. 💙

Please join us in congratulating our Board Chair, Rudy Vargas, on being named the San Diego Business Journal's Nonprofit...
09/30/2026

Please join us in congratulating our Board Chair, Rudy Vargas, on being named the San Diego Business Journal's Nonprofit Board Leader of the Year!

Under Rudy's leadership, Ocean Discovery has navigated a particularly challenging time, including significant federal funding cuts, with clarity, resilience, and optimism. He has strengthened our reputation across San Diego and built a broader, more sustainable base of individual donors who believe in our mission.

Rudy is also the first alum of our programs to serve as Board Chair. As a former student, he is a living example of what's possible when young people in City Heights have access to science, opportunity, and people who believe in them.

Congratulations, Rudy, and thank you for everything you do for our students and our community!!

🔬From a 6th-grade student to a Senior Scientist at Novartis. We welcomed back Ocean Discovery alum Ahiram Rodriguez, Cla...
09/30/2026

🔬From a 6th-grade student to a Senior Scientist at Novartis. We welcomed back Ocean Discovery alum Ahiram Rodriguez, Class of 2010, and his Novartis team members to the Living Lab for a hands-on science experience with 30 of our elementary students!

There were experiments, big smiles, and plenty of “WOWs!", but the best part was seeing our students learn from someone who once sat where they are today.

Thank you, Ahiram and the amazing team at Novartis, for coming back and showing our students where science can lead. 💙

We are incredibly grateful for the people who choose to invest in our students, month after month. 💙This month, you’ve s...
09/29/2026

We are incredibly grateful for the people who choose to invest in our students, month after month. 💙

This month, you’ve seen just a few of the incredible paths our students are taking, from college to careers and beyond.

To everyone who gives every month: thank you. You help make these journeys possible and allow us to keep showing up for students every step of the way.

If you’ve considered supporting Ocean Discovery, today is a great day to join us. Your monthly gift helps the next generation discover what’s possible.

Because the journey doesn’t end with us, it starts here. 🌊

Sign up to become a monthly donor and join our 500 Strong Campaign: https://buff.ly/i3rjNIG

🌊 This week, we were grateful to welcome Tuatini Tokoragi, co-founder and Vice President of Te Natirau, a nonprofit in T...
09/25/2026

🌊 This week, we were grateful to welcome Tuatini Tokoragi, co-founder and Vice President of Te Natirau, a nonprofit in Tahiti focused on youth empowerment through environmental stewardship and cultural preservation.

During his time with Ocean Discovery, Tuatini shared his story with our students, led a financial literacy lesson with our high school Ocean Leaders on taxes and managing money, and connected with our staff to share more about the work and programs he leads in Tahiti.

We also had the chance to share a little more of our community with him, from lunch at Cenaduria Mi Ranchito, a new local restaurant owned by a Hoover High alum (and Tuatini’s first time trying chilaquiles!), to an evening with staff exploring the beauty of Balboa Park.

Thank you, Tuatini, for sharing your story, knowledge, culture, and perspective with our students and team. Science connects us across communities, cultures, and oceans. 🌎🌊

🚌🌊 Access to science starts with the opportunity to get there.Thanks to the generous support of the Industry Charitable...
09/24/2026

🚌🌊 Access to science starts with the opportunity to get there.

Thanks to the generous support of the Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), K–5 students from City Heights have transportation to Ocean Discovery Institute’s Living Lab, where they can experience hands-on science as part of our In-School Program.

We were grateful to welcome Pilar Summerville to the Living Lab earlier this year to volunteer and present an award supporting this work.

Thank you, Pilar and IICF, for helping make these experiences possible! 💙

Want to see the impact in action? Next month, we’ll take you inside our In-School and Out-of-School Programs and share how students are learning, exploring, and building their belief in what’s possible through science. 🔬🌊

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4255 Thorn Street
San Diego, CA
92105

Telephone

+16197958365

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