Transforming Ripples
into Waves
Our History
In 1970, the first Earth Day marked the birth of the environmental movement.
That year, ocean explorer Ian Koblick founded the Marine Resources Develop-
ment Foundation (MRDF), dedicated to exploring and preserving our oceans.
After 15 years, MRDF expanded to Key Largo, acquiring our lagoon-front
property. A burned-out restaurant and marina became a vibrant educational
and research facility visited annually by over 6,000 students and teachers
worldwide. Today, it remains a priceless community resource committed to
safeguarding our ocean and helping inspire tomorrow's ocean advocates.
“Year after year our
alums tell us that
MarineLab was the
most meaningful
field trip of their
time at school.”
Dan Bassett
St Mark’s Episcopal, FL
Summary of Programs
STUDENT PROGRAMS
We enrich our students’ educational journey with
hands-on scientific exploration and experimentation,
with several of our programs incorporating citizen
science initiatives that help many ongoing real-world
studies. Our up-to-date scientific instruction
extends learning beyond the classroom, positively
influencing family choices, fostering conservation
awareness, and shaping career aspirations. We also
strive to make our programs accessible to every
student, actively supporting underserved Florida
youth through our Art Mitchell Scholarship Fund and
regional funding partners.
TEACHER EDUCATION
We seek to inspire students worldwide, and it’s
through teachers that we make this a reality —
welcoming thousands from across the US, Europe,
and Southeast Asia. Our immersive programs
empower educators of all grade levels to teach
their students about marine ecosystems and
conservation. Incorporating citizen science and
marine research techniques into workshops
gives teachers even more insight on real world
challenges. An extraoridinary bond thrives through
our Caribbean Teacher Initiative, where we host
teachers from neighboring island nations for
an extended stay. By the numbers, our impact
reaches thousands more students each year.
BuildingMarineLabsFuture.org