The Ocean Action Lab
A new kind of aquarium: no tanks, no tricks, just the living ocean.
Overview
A next-generation marine education zone that immerses visitors in the living ecosystems of California’s coast—with a special focus on the Farallon Islands, the Pacific Ocean, and the urgent need for ocean conservation. Replacing outdated captive displays, this zone leverages cutting-edge technology, storytelling, and science to connect people to the ocean in powerful, participatory ways.
Why This Matters
With real-time access to marine research, immersive education, and climate storytelling, the Ocean Learning & Action Lab offers a bold new model for how coastal institutions can inform, inspire, and activate ocean stewards. It brings the deep sea within reach—without removing life from it.
What You’ll Experience
Live-streamed shark and marine research expeditions from the Farallon Islands and beyond, offering real-time access to ocean science in action
VR dives and AR journeys through kelp forests, sea lion colonies, tidepools, and deep-sea canyons
Interactive exhibits on seabird migration, marine mammal behavior, and ocean plastic impacts—designed for all ages
Tidepool labs with collect-and-release exploration, guided by local scientists and naturalists
Flexible indoor-outdoor learning space for rotating Pacific Ocean–themed experiences: art installations and marine film screenings
Hands-on citizen science stations: water quality testing, plankton sampling, and biodiversity monitoring
Be part of reimagining how SF cares for the wild.
Support the transformation of the San Francisco Zoo into a living EcoPark — a place rooted in care, creativity, and coexistence.
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Change starts here — in our city, for our planet.