The Skidaway Institute of Oceanography is a small, autonomous research unit of the University System of Georgia, with 15 research faculty and 40 permanent support staff. It was established in 1967 with the mandate to conduct research in all fields of oceanography and the marine sciences and to serve as a base of operations and central facility for any of the research and educational institutions in the State of Georgia. This mandate and the Institute's remote pristine location, convenient to coastal and shelf waters, guarantee a constant influx of visiting scientists and student seeking access to Skidaway's state-of-the-art research facilities, accessible research locations, and opportunities for collaboration with Skidaway's interdisciplinary and internationally-recognized research faculty. Four older housing units are at least fifty years old and are in need of substantial repair and restoration to maintain their current habitability. Among the necessary tasks for this project are: replacing the elderly shingle roofs of all four units; removing three units from septic tank systems and connecting them to the sewer system; replacing windows in one unit; re-siding and insulating two units; bringing all four unit up to code in fire safety with the inclusion of firewalls and hardwired fire alarms; upgrading electrical service to two units; replacing decrepit kitchen and bathroom facilities in two units; and completing plumbing upgrades in all four units.
