LUMCON

LumCon, for Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium. Here you'll learn all about the Gulf and marshes, the lifestyle and diet of their inhabitants, why some crabs are blue and what a whale vertebra looks like. It's true that LumCon is a research center: it's a scientific institution that's highly respected for its research into coastal erosion and the medium- and long-term effects of the BP oil spill in 2010 on the ecosystem. But the center also aims to educate, with aquariums featuring specimens from the shallows of the Gulf of Mexico and the Barataria-Terrebonne estuary, marshes to explore all around the site, a (possible) visit to the Pelican, a research vessel that would make Commander Cousteau blush, and, of course, the observation tower (72 steps without an elevator!), which offers one of the best panoramic views of the region, especially at sunset. The center also offers scientific discussions on a variety of interesting and educational subjects, all in webinar format (see Facebook page for dates). Want to take the experience a step further? Educational activities can be downloaded from the website, and you can also watch some videos. In short, we highly recommend a visit to LumCon, because to appreciate is above all to know. The site was expanded in 2022, as part of a project to develop research and innovation spaces (Blue Works).