At Michigan Sea Grant, we adore the Great Lakes. These five lakes and their connecting rivers make up the planet's largest body of fresh water. They provide drinking water for millions of people, span an international border, sustain billions of dollars of economic activity every year -- and they're stunningly beautiful. That's why we've been working diligently since 1969 to help people around Michigan understand and love the Great Lakes. We leverage our broad network of partner organizations to : - Support and coordinate research projects at Michigan universities to help answer pressing questions about issues affecting Great Lakes ecosystems and communities. - Act as honest brokers of information, putting research findings into the hands of regulators, scientists, policy-makers, and community members who can use the data to make informed decisions about their interactions with the Great Lakes. - Host classroom activities, workshops, lectures, camps, and field trips that connect students and adults with Michigan's marvelous freshwater seas. We're proud to be a cooperative program of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, with main offices in Ann Arbor and East Lansing and a team of educators based in coastal communities around the state. Michigan Sea Grant is part of a national network of 33 university-based Sea Grant programs administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.