GCRL, education center growing

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. -- The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is growing. Near-term plans call for opening an 8,300-square-foot, four-classroom and lab addition in May and long-term plans call for erecting an $18 million Marine Education Center, the education and outreach arm of the lab. Eric Powell, director of the lab, said GCRL with a 200-person staff is among the largest marine research labs in the country and supplies nationally recognized marine disease research. GCRL and MEC leaders met with the Jackson County Board of Supervisors earlier this month to share the plans for growth. (Source: Mississippi Press, 04/23/13)