When I first took this role, I asked a question that’s guided everything since:

How is Seymour Marine Discovery Center uniquely positioned to have a positive impact on this community?

To find the answer, I talked to everyone I could—UC Santa Cruz scientists, environmental nonprofits and policy leaders, community organizers, educators, parents, and skeptics. What I heard, time and again, was this: science in Santa Cruz is thriving—but disconnected. Brilliant people are doing extraordinary things, yet their message doesn’t always reach the broader community. When it does, it’s often muddled by complexity, gloom, or jargon.

That disconnect? It felt like an opportunity.

Science is shifting. It’s becoming more local, more applied, more focused on people. Yes, we are still discovering incredible things about the natural world. But what matters to most people now—especially here in Santa Cruz—is: How does science improve my life? My home? My community?

That insight became our north star. We developed a new framework to guide everything we do: our narrative compass—Science. Solutions. Santa Cruz.

Every story we share and every decision we make now must align with these compass points:

• Is there real science here?
• Is there a solution we can showcase?
• Is it relevant to life here in Santa Cruz?

If it checks all three boxes, it moves forward.

This is the vision now driving our work at Seymour Center: To be the place where science becomes public, solutions become personal, and the future feels possible.

What resonated most in all those early conversations was that science is something people want to do something with. Something that can transform our streets, our watersheds, our bay. We want to learn about science that makes for a better Santa Cruz.

We believe that:

• Science is powerful and it belongs to everyone.
• Community-based solutions deserve the spotlight.
• Santa Cruz can be a national leader in coastal resilience.

For the past year and a half, we’ve been testing these ideas. They’re working.

We’ve welcomed record-breaking attendance to a space that celebrates stories about ropeless crab pots, floodplain reclamation, wildlife tunnels, and more. We’ve begun the groundbreaking restoration of our beloved Ms. Blue using only climate-progressive materials and techniques. These are proof points that the vision is taking hold.

This kind of work takes time. It takes testing, tweaking, and iterating. It takes steady, values-aligned support that lets us try bold things, make smart pivots, and stay anchored in our mission no matter how the tides shift.

None of it is possible without support from people like you. Your support powers this movement.

• It keeps our exhibits up-to-date and engaging.
• It funds school programs for thousands of students.
• It supports the scientists, storytellers, and community leaders who make the work real.

At a time when scientific truth is contested, when young people are overwhelmed by eco-anxiety, and when public trust is fraying, we offer something rare and vital: hope grounded in action.

If you believe in that vision—if you believe Santa Cruz should be a model of climate resilience, scientific literacy, and joyful public engagement—then I ask you to give today.

Together, we can build the future we all want to live in.

With gratitude and determination,
Jonathan Hicken
Executive Director
Seymour Marine Discovery Center

P.S. Every dollar makes a difference. You can give online, in person, or by mail. If you’d like to talk about a larger gift or special project support, I’d love to connect at jahicken@ucsc.edu