South Carolina and Georgia Coastal Expeditions Program
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Coastal Science Serving South Carolina
The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium is a university-based program that generates and provides science-based information to support the wise use and conservation of South Carolina’s coastal resources and create a sustainable economy and environment.
Research
We facilitate coastal and marine research by identifying and funding peer-reviewed projects that address critical data needs for our state and region.
Extension
We support the informational needs of coastal residents by making science-based information, expertise, and education about coastal issues available to the public.
Education
We develop resources for educators and students such as educator training, education programs, and undergraduate and graduate support to further ocean science education.
Coastal Heritage Magazine
Forever Chemicals: The Science and History of PFAS in the Lowcountry
Contaminants of emerging concern, such as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and phthalates, have long been present in the South Carolina Lowcountry, affecting humans, wildlife, and waterways. Researchers are racing to understand their impact.
News and Program Updates
Alligators as Bioindicators for Contaminants
As plastics and other aquatic and marine debris become more present in our ecosystems, alligators’ diets increasingly include items off their natural menu. Either directly consumed or ingested indirectly via prey, plastics and the coatings on plastic materials can be digested by living organisms, breaking down into microplastics and other contaminants of emerging concern (CECs).
Alljoy is Getting All Hooked Up
Spurred by community concern and backed by Consortium-provided research, the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) started the Go2Sewer for a Cleaner May River initiative to address rising groundwater and septic tank issues in the Alljoy community.
Workshop Explores Local Solutions to Septic Tank Issues
On May 5, 2026, the Septic Think Tank workshop was held in Columbia, S.C. Organized by Mount Pleasant Waterworks and a host of partners, the event highlighted local-level septic management strategies in South Carolina that protect public- and environmental-health.
Consortium Member Institutions
