Virginia Institute of Marine Science

$100M gift to establish W&M’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences A transformational $100 million gift from philanthropist Jane Batten HON ’17, L.H.D. ’19 will catalyze the newly named Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences.

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News & Features

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In the News Meet the Batten School's New Students William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences at VIMS welcomed its largest class in history this year as 35 students entered its M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. programs.

In the News The Case for Ocean Iron Fertilization An international team of scientists including Professor Deborah Steinberg have published a new study outlining the potential for ocean iron fertilization as a method for marine carbon dioxide removal.

In the News Study Offers Hope for the American Lobster A new study suggests the American lobster may be more resilient to the effects of climate change than expected.

In the News Batten School Graduate Discovers New Antarctic Dragonfish A new species of Antarctic dragonfish exemplifies both the unknown diversity and fragile state of the Antarctic ecosystem.

In the News Bay Grasses Continue Recovery Underwater grasses in the Chesapeake Bay expanded 7% in 2023 to an estimated 82,937 acres, nearing levels observed before dramatic declines experienced in 2019.

In the News The Immersive Nature of the ESL Field Course Based out of the VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory, MSCI 331 Coastal Marine Environments prepares William & Mary undergraduates for field-based coastal and marine research.

In the News Solving SUMS A report from a workshop at VIMS details what is known about sudden oyster mortality syndrome and urges collaboration between researchers and industry to mitigate one of the biggest threats facing oyster farmers.

In the News Mixing Up Plankton Research A new journal article highlights the importance of mixoplankton and suggests methods for expanding our knowledge of this critically important component of the marine ecosystem.

In the News Marine Science Day Draws 2,000+ VIMS' open house event offers a closer look at our research and education facilities. This year, the 22nd annual Marine Science Day attracted more than 2,000 visitors.

In the News Undergraduate Impact: Caitlin Sughrue W&M biology major Caitlin Sughrue made important contributions to research supporting seagrass restoration while earning her Minor in Marine Science.

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What We Do

Photo of two children seining on the York River.

What We Do

Research & Advisory Services

VIMS is a premier coastal and marine sciences research institute and a state agency with a mandate to conduct research and provide sound scientific advice to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the years since our founding in 1940, we have developed unique capabilities in people, practices and infrastructure that allow us to provide the honest, unbiased science and guidance needed to help address the pressing issues facing our rivers, estuaries, coasts and oceans.

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Batten School

William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences at VIMS is a preeminent graduate school, providing a world-class education in coastal and marine sciences. M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. programs prepare students to address societal and global challenges in estuarine, coastal and marine systems. Opportunities also exist for undergraduate students, who can conduct hands-on research and minor in Marine Science through a collaboration with Arts & Sciences at William & Mary.

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Outreach & Education

Our outreach activities and place-based learning opportunities for school groups, teachers, political leaders and the public reach more than 30,000 people each year. Developing an engaged citizenry ready to tackle the challenges posed by global change is a core element of our work.

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Upcoming Events

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