Among the more than 300 programs that may be under way at any one time are studies of air-sea interaction, climate prediction, earthquakes, the physiology of marine animals, marine chemistry, beach erosion, the marine food chain, the ecology of marine organisms, the geological history of the ocean basins, and the multidisciplinary aspects of global change and the environment. Scripps operates four ships and one platform for oceanographic research primarily in support of programs by Scripps researchers, although a significant part of their work is for oceanographers from other institutions throughout the world. Investigations supported by contracts and grants, primarily federal, cover a wide latitude of marine research. A ship operations and marine technical support unit provides essential services and facilities to all research units of the institution. Scripps's educational program has grown hand in hand with the research programs.
Instruction is on the graduate level, and students are admitted as candidates for a Ph.D. degree.
Approximately ninety professors are complemented by an academic staff of more than 200 research scientists, many of whom have a regularly scheduled role in the instructional program. The Birch Aquarium at Scripps provides a wide variety of educational courses in the marine sciences for students from primary grades to high school level. UCSD students also may become involved in work-study programs or serve as volunteers or aquarist trainees. A limited number of students can be accommodated for a four-unit course in independent study by arrangement with a faculty member and the aquarium director. The museum exhibits present basic oceanographic concepts and explain research undertaken at Scripps.