The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation recently contributed $750,000 to the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography on the campus of the University of California, San Diego, 2300 Expedition Way.
“We’ve seen enormous public interest in our multifaceted climate change exhibit at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography ” far more than we expected,” said Nigella Hillgarth, executive director of the aquarium. “It is really clarifying for those who visit ‘Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge’ to see the science behind the climate change so that they can better understand the fundamentals.”
This is the first time the Hilton Foundation has contributed funds to Birch Aquarium. The money will be used to support the aquarium’s latest exhibit and educational program.
“Attendance has climbed because of this exhibit ” we saw an increase from May through December 2007,” Hillgarth said. “What is remarkable about Birch is that, first and foremost, it’s an aquarium that connects people to the ocean; just as important, it connects people to UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.”
For more information, see www.ucsd.edu.