Gulf Shores City Schools (GSCS) has been awarded a grant of $733,024 from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Gulf Research Program to expand through a three-year initiative titled "Alabama Gulf Coast Resiliency Project: Sustainability, Full STEAMM Ahead."

This place-based education (PBE) initiative aims to increase scientific and environmental literacy among K–eighth grade students by connecting classroom learning to real-world environmental issues along the Alabama Gulf Coast.

The project was one of only a few selected nationally and represents a bold commitment to educational innovation and regional resilience.

The initiative transforms the Gulf Coast into a living classroom, where students engage in hands-on activities such as oyster gardening, dune and shoreline restoration, water quality and weather monitoring, scuba/sailing/biking/kayaking for STEAMM learning, and water safety. These experiences not only align with Alabama State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), but also prepare students for emerging careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts, mathematics and medicine (STEAMM).

The project is designed to grow over time with the first year focusing on planning and implementing PBE for GSCS students in kindergarten through grade 8.

In year two, the project will expand to invite teachers in neighboring, under-resourced and under-represented schools to join the initiative through training and collaboration.

Year three will bring students from partner districts into the program, allowing them to engage in shared fieldwork, service-learning and the Gulf Coast Sustainability Symposium — a showcase of student-led proposals, scientific research, teacher development and community innovation.

The initiative is bolstered by robust partnerships with Auburn University, Down Under Dive Shop, Reefmaker, Diving with a Purpose, Gulf State Park, The Lodge and Learning Campus, and the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability. These partners will co-facilitate fieldwork in coastal restoration, sustainable fisheries, marine science and renewable energy design.

Additionally, GSCS will offer out-of-school programming such as marine science summer camps and employ interns to support mentorship and leadership development.

To ensure equity, the grant provides resources to support participation from students and educators in rural and underrepresented schools across the region. Funding will cover transportation, lodging, substitute teacher costs and event participation, which serves to remove barriers and expand access to high-quality environmental learning.

Project Director, Jessica Sampley, said, "This project is about so much more than traditional classroom instruction — it's about empowering young people across our region to see themselves as problem-solvers, scientists and stewards. This project lets them do that by immersing them in the place they call home so that they understand the importance of belonging, sustainability and conservation, and they feel the quiet power of knowing they can make a difference right where they stand."

"This initiative positions our students not just as learners, but as leaders and stewards of the Gulf Coast's ecological future," Dr. Matt Akin, Superintendent of Gulf Shores City Schools, said. "We're honored to partner with the Gulf Research Program in shaping the next generation of problem-solvers and civic leaders."

The Alabama Gulf Coast Resiliency Project promises to leave a lasting impact by equipping students with tools to understand and address complex environmental challenges — while building stronger, more resilient communities.