Birch Aquarium at Scripps

About

Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the museum and public education center of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, one of the oldest and most renowned oceanographic research institutions in the world. Perched on a bluff in La Jolla with views overlooking the Pacific, the aquarium connects visitors directly with the science happening in Scripps laboratories—research that has shaped what humanity knows about ocean currents, climate change, and marine biodiversity. The aquarium's exhibits focus on Southern California and Pacific Ocean ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on the scientific process of oceanography. The centerpiece is a 70,000-gallon kelp forest tank—one of the most beautiful in any aquarium—housing leopard sharks, Garibaldi (California's official state marine fish), moray eels, and hundreds of fish species found along the California coast. Seahorse Alley features dozens of seahorse and pipefish species in beautifully lit display tanks, and the outdoor tide pools expose visitors to hands-on encounters with hermit crabs, urchins, and anemones. The Hall of Fishes focuses on California native species, while the Climate Science Gallery—one of the most rigorous climate science exhibits in any informal education setting—uses real Scripps data to explain ocean warming, sea level rise, and the research methods oceanographers use to measure change over decades. The sea turtle rehabilitation program receives injured Pacific sea turtles for treatment, and visitors often see turtles in recovery tanks before their release. Education programs are tightly integrated with Scripps research, allowing students to engage with scientists and the real datasets they collect. Field trips, camps, and Scout programs are available.

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