Program Highlights
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Ocean Conservation
Mission Blue is a global call to action with an important goal of raising public awareness, starting conservations, and inspiring people to help protect a vital natural resource - the Ocean. The Waitt Foundation and the National Geographic Society, along with many other strategic conservation partners are beginning an action-oriented marine conservation initiative. This initiative is aimed at restoring health and productivity to the ocean by inspiring people to care and act, reducing the impact of fishing, and promoting the creation of marine protected areas. This global collaborative effort will promote the expansion of proven, replicable, and scalable solutions. Read more here…
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Exploration & Discovery
The Waitt Institute for Discovery established the CATALYST Program in 2006 to accelerate deep-sea exploration, cutting-edge scientific research and sustainable ocean policy. Since that time, the Institute has completed several CATALYST missions, partnering with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute for scientific and technical expertise, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for operation of the Institute’s two REMUS 6000 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Read more here…
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Scientific Innovation
Launched with a landmark $20 million gift to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies , the Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center serves as a state-of-the-art research hub, driving the development of next-generation imaging and visualization tools enabling investigators from across many biological disciplines to gain unprecedented insight into the inner working of cells and tissues utilizing the latest imaging technology. Using light to magnify the tiniest components of life, biophotonics enables scientists to see single photons and closely study how molecules interact and function within cells. This gift was the second-largest, non-governmental grant ever received by the Salk Institute. Read more here…
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Community Building
In 2008, the Waitt Foundation contributed $4 million as the first major gift to the Siouxland Heritage Foundation for construction of the new Sioux City Public Museum. With the doors now officially open, the new site will dramatically increase the museum’s educational opportunities with expanded areas to store and display its more than 55,000 objects and 250,000 photographic images, as well as showcase exciting, new traveling exhibits. The museum is both an exhibit of the rich history of the Siouxland area and a celebration of the community. Read more here…