​SciREN was founded by marine science graduate students at the University of North Carolina who wanted to share their research with school children who would be motivated by learning about scientific research in their own community. The network has expanded to multiple institutions and states, and in Spring 2021, researchers at the University of Alabama and the Alabama Water Institute (AWI) will host the inaugural SciREN Alabama program, fostering active collaborations between AWI researchers and regional K-12 educators.