The mission of the Institute is education, research and public participation in marine and paleobiological sciences. The Institute does classroom programs and public outreach to inform and interest young people in these areas of science. The institute is an ambassador for international cooperation and understanding by encouraging communication and research among scientists of different countries. MPRI fosters the preservation of our world fossil heritage for education, museum exhibits and research. Emphasis is on fossils that are poorly represented in public institutions. Our website www.MPRInstitute.org is maintained as an online resource to foster our mission, to communicate with our supporters, and to be an educational tool.