Here at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, we’ve begun 2017 with a sense of pride and accomplishment, as well as an urgent need to reflect on Sea Grant’s future.

We have just finished celebrating 50 years of putting science to work for coastal communities with the National Sea Grant Program. This has been an opportunity to take stock of our achievements in service. In 2015 alone, between our 33 programs, Sea Grant helped create or sustain more than 20,000 jobs and 2,900 businesses, and generated an economic impact of $575 million from a federal investment of $67.3 million – an 854 percent return on investment.

This federal investment is leveraged with private, local and state dollars to address the coastal issues our Great Lakes residents say are most important to them. In Illinois and Indiana, we have helped our two great states:

  • Build water security: IISG programs have prevented 72.7 tons of medicine from entering waterways, reduced pesticide use by 24,900 pounds annually, and saved over one billion gallons of water annually through natural lawn care.
  • Grow local towns and businesses: IISG provides training and support for Indiana’s $15 million aquaculture industry, helping it grow five-fold in the last 10 years to support 280 jobs. IISG helps 20 communities plan for optimal growth annually.
  • Provide science education: Annually, IISG reaches more than 38,000 k-12 students, trains 300 educators, and financially supports 95 graduate and undergraduate students.
  • Advance Great Lakes science: IISG research has made breakthrough discoveries on Great Lakes pollution, food webs, and even new sources of antibiotics.
  • Restore coastal habitats: IISG has worked with communities to support removal of 2 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment along the Grand Calumet River, ban invasive plants, and help protect 11,000 acres of water and shoreline from the economic and societal impacts of invasive species.

Yet the continued existence of Sea Grant is in question. President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would eliminate funding for the Sea Grant program in Fiscal Year 2018, which begins October 1. The program was also proposed for elimination in the FY 2017 Security Supplemental, but we are happy to report that Congress has voted to maintain all Sea Grant omnibus and aquaculture competition funding through September.

For 50 years, Sea Grant has enjoyed strong bipartisan support from members of Congress, and this has not changed. We hope to continue serving you and supporting a strong and vibrant Great Lakes economy and environment for years to come.

Brian Miller
Director, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant is a part of University of Illinois Extension and Purdue University Extension.

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Four science educators from Illinois and Indiana have been selected for the 2025 Shipboard Science Immersion on Lake Michigan July 7-13. The educators will spend a full week alongside researchers aboard the EPA research vessel Lake Guardian. Afterwards, they will bring Great Lakes science back to their classroom. Learn more and meet the four incredible teachers representing Illinois and Indiana at the link in bio.
🌿 Educators—Explore Restoration in Action! Join us Thursday, July 31 at Purdue Northwest (Hammond, IN) for a FREE full-day workshop diving into the transformation of the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern.🚍 Tour restored sites🧠 Engage with VR curriculum📚 Earn 6 PD hours🥐 Breakfast & lunch included🔗 Register now at the link in bio and bring real-world science to your classroom.Register by July 21st.
Attention STEM educators! Our new aquaponics curriculum is here! Designed for 9-12th grade classrooms with operating aquaponics systems, this curriculum, created by educators for educators, teaches STEM concepts through the lens of aquaponics, aligning with NGSS and Great Lakes Literacy Principles. Learn more at the link in bio.
Big news from Illinois‑Indiana Sea Grant! We’re thrilled to announce Dr. Stuart Carlton, our Assistant Director since 2018, will step into the Director role on July 14, 2025. Join us in congratulating Stuart, and read on at the link in bio to find out more about the transition!
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