Research & Conservation

Georgia Aquarium is licensed as a Class R research facility under the Animal Welfare Act, representing the highest standard for ethical review in animal research aimed at advancing scientific understanding.

This license enables the Aquarium to conduct research involving animals in its collection beyond routine care procedures. All research conducted by Georgia Aquarium—whether onsite or in the field—must undergo evaluation through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) process, which ensures ethical oversight. The IACUC process is regulated by the Animal Welfare Act under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Institutions holding this distinction are subject to close monitoring and rigorous compliance requirements to maintain the license.

“The achievement of becoming a Class R research facility makes Georgia Aquarium a more capable and adaptive institution, where animal care and research are even more closely aligned,” said Dr. Alistair Dove, Vice President of Science and Education. “With this new license, we will continue our tradition of performing minimally invasive research. It also allows us to expand collaboration with other Class R partners, further integrating us into the scientific community.”

Georgia Aquarium is one of only five aquariums nationwide to hold the prestigious Class R license.