Texas A&M University at Galveston has played an important role in the understanding of the oceans, particularly the Gulf of Mexico. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the National Sea Grant College Act, which created a network of universities focused on the use and conservation of aquatic resources, including Texas A&M University in College Station. Texas A&M was already managing the Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston, which later became a branch campus, when Texas A&M was named one of the nation’s first four Sea-Grant colleges in 1971. Since then, Texas A&M-Galveston has been a centerpiece for the research and education in marine and maritime affairs for the State of Texas.
In the 21st century, new challenges are emerging requiring new approaches to the use and protection of the Gulf of Mexico and the oceans. Climate change, the need for electricity and new forms of energy, and sustainable seafood, among others, are prompting the development of the “Blue Economy.” As the leading institution of marine and maritime education, service, and research for the state, Texas A&M-Galveston is called to lead this new approach.