NOAA in your backyard: Gulf of Mexico

Educational opportunities and staff in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Gulf Coast Florida

NOAA in Your State & Territory

State by state listings of NOAA facilities and programs
A summary of NOAA facilities, programs, or activities based in, or focused on, your state or territory.

National Weather Service

School visits • Forecast office tours • Student and educator resources
The National Weather Service provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas.

  • To find your local Weather Forecast Office (WFO), visit the National Weather Service local contact page and enter your city and state or zip code in the box. A website, email, and phone number will show up. This is the best contact information for each office. 
  • Visit weather.gov and enter your zip code to find your local WFO.

National Estuarine Research Reserve System

Field trips • Professional development • Educator resources
The National Estuarine Research Reserves System protects more than 1.3 million coastal and estuarine acres in 30 reserves located in 24 states and Puerto Rico for purposes of long-term research, environmental monitoring, education and stewardship.

NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries

Field trips • Professional development • Educator resources
NOAA’s 14 National Marine Sanctuaries serve as the trustee for the nation’s system of marine protected areas, to conserve, protect, and enhance their biodiversity, ecological integrity, and cultural legacy.

National Sea Grant Program

Professional development • Curriculum • Student and educator resources
Sea Grant is a nationwide network of 34 university-based programs that conduct scientific research, education, training, and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources.

NOAA Marine Debris Program

Lesson plans and curricula • Stewardship projects • Media library
The NOAA Marine Debris Program envisions the global ocean and its coasts free from the impacts of marine debris.

NOAA Fisheries

Student opportunities • Laboratory facilities • NOAA scientists • Educator resources
The NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management, and the promotion of healthy ecosystems. They have regional offices and several smaller field offices.

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

Curriculum • Data • Multimedia
The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) is a national-regional partnership working to provide new tools and forecasts to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect our environment.

Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)

Competitive grants for educator watershed training programs
B-WET is an environmental educator program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment.

NOAA at the John C. Stennis Space Center (MS)

Visitor center • Science on a Sphere • Labs • NOAA scientists • Data
The five NOAA entities at Stennis integrate coastal and oceanographic data, coastal management, and assessment of natural and human impacts on the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and economies.

Gulf of Mexico Alliance

Educator resources • Stewardship projects • Webinars
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is a partnership of the five Gulf States, federal agencies, academic organizations, businesses, and other non-profits in the region with the goal of significantly increasing regional collaboration to enhance the environmental and economic health of the Gulf Region.

National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB)

Regional competitions in ocean sciences
NOTE: The NOSB national office will not host a national finals competition in 2023-24 or 2024-25. Some regional offices will be hosting competitions. Please reach out to contacts below for more details.
NOSB is a national high school academic competition with regional competitions for student teams to test their knowledge of the marine sciences including biology, chemistry, physics, and geology.

Local NOAA vessels

Follow current science off the Gulf of Mexico coast

Historical and real-time data

Local historical weather events and data

NOAA Science On a Sphere® (SOS) locations

Earth systems data projected on a six-foot globe
SOS is a room-sized, global display system that uses computers and video projectors to display data onto a six foot diameter sphere, analogous to a giant animated globe. It was developed by researchers at NOAA to help illustrate complex environmental processes in a captivating way.