Your gift can make a deep, lasting impact through current priorities of the Auburn animal sciences program. Each of the major projects detailed below offers a variety of philanthropic and naming opportunities. Please reach out to our development team for more information.
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Giving priorities
The School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University seeks to establish a Mobile Bay and Delta Observatory: a transformative coastal research and education facility on Dauphin Island. Positioned at the interface of the Mobile Bay and the Mobile-Tensaw Delta - often called “America’s Amazon” - this centerpiece observatory will anchor long-term science, workforce training, and industry innovation in one of North America’s most intact estuarine systems.
This investment will:
- Construct a world-class coastal facility including laboratory space, student housing, and field infrastructure to support year-round research and training.
- Advance the Gulf Coast oyster industry through a market-scale offshore oyster farm and a “walk-in” seafood health laboratory supporting product quality, safety, and innovation.
- Enable long-term, interdisciplinary research on fisheries, water quality, coastal resilience, and ecosystem dynamics across Mobile Bay and the Delta.
- Expand immersive education and workforce development by providing students with hands-on, place-based training in a globally significant coastal system.
- Strengthen partnerships with industry, agencies, and communities to deliver science-based solutions for sustainable coastal economies.
Impact:
The Mobile Bay and Delta Observatory will position Auburn as a national leader in coastal science and sustainable seafood systems. It will drive discovery, supporting industry, and training future leaders while advancing stewardship of one of the most important estuaries in North America.
The E.W. Shell Fisheries Research Center (EWSFRC) is the field-based heart of Auburn University’s School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences (SFAAS) and one of the most comprehensive fisheries research and training facilities in the world. To sustain this leadership and ensure long-term impact, SFAAS seeks to establish a $2,000,000 endowment dedicated to Shell Station.
This endowment will:
- Support cutting-edge research and innovation through flexible funding for pilot projects and emerging priorities.
- Strengthen industry engagement and Extension via field days, demonstrations, and applied partnerships.
- Expand student training and workforce development through hands-on learning and research experiences.
- Sustain critical infrastructure and operations across ponds, laboratories, and field systems.
This endowment will provide enduring annual support to advance research, train future leaders, and reinforce/protect Auburn’s position as a national leader in fisheries and aquaculture.
Auburn University is nationally recognized for preparing the next generation of fisheries and aquatic scientists. To build on this strength and ensure every student gains meaningful, real-world experience, SFAAS seeks to establish a $500,000 Experiential Learning Fund for Excellence.
This fund will:
- Provide paid internships and externships for every fisheries student, ensuring wide access to high-impact, career-altering experiences.
- Expand hands-on learning opportunities that get students into the field: working on rivers, lakes, hatcheries, and conservation projects.
- Strengthen connections to employers and career pathways by supporting placements with agencies, industry partners, and NGOs.
- Enhance student success and workforce readiness by building technical skills, confidence, and professional networks.
This fund will establish a signature Auburn experience and ensure every fisheries student gains practical, field-based training that connects science to real-world application.
The E.W. Shell Fisheries Research Center (EWSFRC) is a cornerstone of Auburn University’s School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences (SFAAS) and a national leader in aquaculture research and Extension. To address a critical gap in Alabama’s aquaculture infrastructure, SFAAS seeks $150,000 to construct a new enclosed pole barn to house a research fish hatchery at the Shell Station.
This investment will:
- Establish Alabama’s only research hatchery, directly supporting the state’s catfish industry, which currently operates without an in-state hatchery.
- Advance applied research and innovation in fish reproduction, larval rearing, and hatchery technologies tailored to industry needs.
- Strengthen Extension and producer support by providing a platform for demonstrations, training, and rapid problem-solving with industry partners.
- Expand student training and workforce development through hands-on hatchery experience in a modern, field-based setting.
This project fills a critical infrastructure gap for Alabama aquaculture, positioning Auburn to deliver science-based solutions, train the next generation, and fully realize its land-grant mission in support of the state’s catfish industry.
To expand public access and connect local youth with the outdoors, SFAAS seeks $75,000 to renovate 1–2 ponds at the Shell Station for community fishing and education programs.
This investment will:
- Renovate ponds to support safe, accessible fishing opportunities for families and youth in the Auburn-Opelika area.
- Launch a series of hands-on fishing clinics for kids, focused on skills, stewardship, and outdoor experiences.
- Provide equipment and instruction to reduce barriers to participation and ensure inclusive access.
- Promote conservation awareness and lifelong engagement with nature through fun, science-based programming.
This effort expands public access to fishing, introduces youth to the outdoors, and strengthens Auburn’s land-grant mission by connecting communities with fisheries, conservation, and recreation.
The School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University is launching a series of Impact Accelerator Funds to support high-priority, rapid-response efforts in research, teaching, and Extension.
Conservation of Rare Native Fishes in Alabama – $15,000
- Support field research, monitoring, and agency partnerships.
- Advance science that informs recovery of imperiled species.
Impact: Accelerates conservation of Alabama’s unique freshwater biodiversity.
Sustainable Aquaculture – $15,000
- Fund pilot projects and producer-focused research.
- Develop practical, sustainable production solutions.
Impact: Strengthens innovation and resilience in Alabama aquaculture.
Heart of the Delta Field Experience – $15,000
- Support a week-long immersive course in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.
- Provide hands-on, multidisciplinary training in a field setting.
Impact: Delivers a signature, place-based learning experience for Auburn students.
Overall Impact:
Flexible, high-impact funds that catalyze innovation, enhance student training, and deliver timely solutions across fisheries and aquatic sciences.
Fisheries Impact Accelerator Funds – $15,000 each
The School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University is launching Impact Accelerator Funds to support high-priority, rapid-response efforts in research, teaching, and Extension.
Conservation of Rare Native Fishes in Alabama – $15,000
- Support field research, monitoring, and agency partnerships.
- Advance science that informs recovery of imperiled species.
Impact: Accelerates conservation of Alabama’s unique freshwater biodiversity.
Sustainable Aquaculture – $15,000
- Fund pilot projects and producer-focused research.
- Develop practical, sustainable production solutions.
Impact: Strengthens innovation and resilience in Alabama aquaculture.
Heart of the Delta Field Experience – $15,000
- Support a week-long immersive course in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.
- Provide hands-on, multidisciplinary training in a field setting.
Impact: Delivers a signature, place-based learning experience for Auburn students.
Overall Impact:Flexible, high-impact funds that catalyze innovation, enhance student training, and deliver timely solutions across fisheries and aquatic sciences.
