Our Mission

The Ocean Explorer Centre empowers audiences to contribute positively to a healthy and sustainably managed marine environment through greater awareness and understanding of the marine system and the challenges it faces.

The Ocean Explorer Centre is the visitor centre to the UK's oldest oceanographic institution, the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). SAMS delivers the research showcased in the centre. It also provides education in marine science, offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well as shorter courses. SAMS is a founding member of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Scotland's newest and most innovative university.