Bermuda does not yet have a museum culture where residents regularly go on educational visits, according to Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) director Alan Paris.

Bermudians were ?born? to go to the Aquarium but BUEI does not yet command that type of loyalty, he told the Rotary Club lunch yesterday.

He pointed out that while the Bermuda Biological Station for Research was 100 years old, the Aquarium 78 years old and Bermuda Maritime Museum 30 years old, BUEI had only been in existence for less than seven years.

BUEI has launched a campaign to raise $5 million for its education programme, which formed the basis of the institution?s activities.

?BUEI is still young but we are growing up and desire to become a beloved institution,? said Mr. Paris, the first Bermudian to sail around the world solo.

?I put it to you that Bermudians do not possess a museum culture ? yet.

?We are born to go to the Aquarium.

?Parents in baby classes are told to go take their newborns to the Aquarium because it calms them to watch the fish. What a marketing coup.

?Assets such as the Maritime Museum, the Biostation, National Gallery and BUEI are all excellent products and we are all out there trying to get our resources to be enjoyed and, of course, supported.?