Thousands of museum visitors immersed in NASA's sea level science

On World Oceans Day, June 6, 2026, more than a thousand visitors to the University of Georgia Aquarium on Scheiding Island had a unique opportunity to explore the science of sea level from NASAThanks to NASA Science Activation and the SEAL (Sea Level Education, Awareness, and Literacy) project, the event was made free, allowing it to reach a wider audience, including communities already experiencing the effects of climate change.

Interactive sea level research

The SEAL Project, a collaboration between NASA and four NOAA Sea Grant programs, aims to raise awareness of sea level rise among educators and coastal communities in the U.S. Participants could participate in engaging activities such as a game of “Tumbling Tower,” where removing blocks symbolized the different impacts of sea level rise on communities, and making “sea level friendship bracelets,” using colored beads to represent the observed rise in water levels along local coastlines.

A new augmented reality sandbox developed by SEAL was a highlight. Visitors could create coastal landscapes out of sand, watching their creations transform in real time as sea level rise projections provided by NASA helped them experiment with adaptation strategies, such as dune building or housing relocation, and see how these activities could help communities prepare for future changes.

Accessible educational materials for climate resilience

Educators who participated in the event received four different SEAL lesson plans designed for classrooms and informal learning. These materials help students explore the processes, modeling, variations, and impacts of sea level rise using NASA data and interactive STEM activities. The SEAL project also plans to make all of the lesson plans available online.

“World Oceans Day is an annual tradition at the University of Georgia Aquarium,” said Shannon Matzke, marine educator and community programs coordinator at Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “Thanks to support from NASA Science Activation, this year’s event was free, allowing us to reach more people and a diverse audience than usual. The integration of SEAL activities made the day even more meaningful for visitors – many of whom live in coastal communities already feeling the effects of rising sea levels.”

Source: NASA