Dauphin Island Sea Lab history

Vittor, Crozier, and Rounsefell, with their intrepid band of survivors, got access to the former Air Force base in April of 1972 with a commitment to host the first MESC summer program.

He and Johnny Booker, another early University of South Alabama graduate, made Discovery Hall, which had been initiated by Tommy Walker in 1975, the preeminent K–12 marine education program in the country.

A formal search ended with the 1977 hiring of Doctor George Crozier as the executive director.

1980 DISL Summer Session held at Spring Hill College in Mobile.

Access was by ferry or the DISL's boats until the new bridge was completed in 1982.

It was with some consternation in 1985 that the State of Alabama ‘‘found’’ the laboratory, which had assumed financial independence from the University of South Alabama just prior to the storm, with the creation of the new administration.

DISL restored the original name, R/V A.E. Verrill, and its function, that of introducing scientists and students to marine science, in 1986.

Administered through and funded by the EPA under provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1987, the initial task for the MBNEP was the development of a Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP) as a blueprint for conserving the estuary.

State funding cycles being what they are, the promise of the 1988 5-yr plan probably took closer to 10 yr to realize.

By 1989, DISL resident researchers had been increased by two full-time faculty and a postdoctoral fellow; an additional two faculty lines followed over the next 2 yr.

Horizon Hall debuted in 1991 with four classrooms, two offices, and two laboratory prep areas.

DISL joined the American Academy of Underwater Science in 1992.

1994 Education Center opens to the public to serve as an introduction to the concept of The Estuarium.

The Baymobile, a truck outfitted with similar educa- tional displays and staffed by Discovery Hall educators, started visiting K–12 classrooms around the state in 1995.

Successfully funded in 1996, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program now cooperates with DISL in a variety of outreach efforts.

NSF and private foundation money supported construction of the current 3,600–square foot facility with recirculating systems in eight separate work areas in 2001.

Another opportunity to engage and interact with consortium members arose in 2002 when Auburn University reconsidered plans to open an oyster hatchery in Bayou la Batre.

The research community acquired a vessel used primarily for research, the R/V E.O. Wilson, named for the famous Alabama native, in 2005.

A second two-story addition in 2006, a joint venture with the University of South Alabama to house some of their faculty, added five more laboratories and additional office area.

2008 Doctor Scott Quackenbush named Executive Director, and Doctor Crozier returns as Executive Director in late 2008 as a result of Doctor Quackenbush’s sudden passing.

Effective eco- system-based management implies integration of diverse data sets, another developing area at DISL. The Shelby Center, which opened in late 2009, also includes a 100–5,000-gallon flow- through seawater experimental mesocosm.

2010 Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience formed in response to Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

2011 Doctor John Valentine named Executive Director.

2012 DISL Foundation hosts the first Marine Environmental Awards Luncheon.

2013 The Estuarium opens the geothermal Rays of the Bay exhibit.

2015 Marine Mammal Research Center opened.

2017 Estuarium opens a new exhibit hall, Windows to the Sea.

2018 DISL creates a Development Office to assist the DISL Foundation with fundraising activities.

2019: The Alabama Center of Excellence officially announced by the United States Treasury and ADCNR.

2020: DISL graduate student dorm, Albatross, and portions of Marine Science Hall impacted by more than $3.5 million in damages from Hurricane Sally.