Located in Richmond Heights, the new World Aquarium will offer opportunities for Saint Louis University students and professors to experience the research, educational and museum aspects of the institution.

Although projected opening date for the $55 million aquarium will not be until September 2004, representatives from St. Louis Aquatic Center, Inc. invite students and professors of SLU to become a part of this opportunity.

St. Louis Aquatic Center, Inc. is not-for-profit organizations that runs the Children’s Aquarium and the future World Aquarium, an publishes informative pamphlets and runs educational teacher programs. The president of the center, Leonard Sonnenschien, has been instrumental in developing the vision for St. Louis’s newest aquatic institution. The aquarium will feature an international and global theme.

“We are interested in how humans interact with their environment in regards to their particular culture,” Sonnenschien said. “Each ethnic group, whether it be Indian, Chinese or Brazilian, uses the environment for medicinal, nutritional or economic purposes. We hope to explore these differences.”

Culture and international flavor will be the key words used to describe the new aquarium. According to Sonnenschien, the global focus arose from the need to educate more people on the beneficial uses of natural resources.

The St. Louis Aquatic Center, Inc. has entered into a partnership with SLU to facilitate the research and educational background.

The center is particularly interested in working with international students to glean information about their communities to use for exhibits and programs. Additionally, these students can take the experiences learned through the aquarium back to their countries to use for research and future careers.

“Saint Louis University was the best choice for this project because it is known as an international student center. The mission statement of the University coincides with what we hope to accomplish,” Sonnenschien said.

Dr. Richard Mayden, professor and chair of SLU’s Biology Department, has played an active role in the development of the World Aquarium. He has focused much time and attention to research and education programs, as well as to acquiring grants to fund the project.

Mayden shares Sonnenschien’s vision of an international aquarium.

“The World Aquarium is much more then a habitat. It uses fish diversity and environmental conservation to exemplify the importance of international awareness,” Mayden said. “In my opinion, the global theme is so important nowadays.”

All information about available internships can be found on the aquarium’s Web site, www.stlchildrensaquarium.com.

Additional information about the upcoming World Aquarium is located on its Web site, www.worldaquarium.net.