Fast Facts
Areas of Expertise:
- Marine Biotechnology
- Biodiversity
- Natural Products
- Oceanography
- Harmful Algal Studies
- Coastal Ecology
- Estuarine and River Ecology
- Coral Reef Ecology
- Fisheries Biology
- Marine Mammals
Current Facilities:
- Offices and laboratories for 40 scientists, 65 students, and 60+ staff
- Facilities for research, education and public outreach (K-12 through lifelong
learning) - Dock accessible from the Intracoastal Waterway Running seawater available at Myrtle Grove and Wrightsville Beach facilities
- 147-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art multimedia equipment
- Lab space available for scientists from other North Carolina universities
- Approximate 25,000 square foot addition currently being built; set to open in 2008
History:
- Marine science focus at UNCW spans over 30 years
- Started as Marine Biomedical Institute in 1970s and renamed the Center for Marine Science Research (CMSR) in 1980s
- After the Master of Science in Marine Science was added in 2000, the name was changed to Center for Marine Science
- New century brings an increased activity at the state, national and international levels
- New facility in Myrtle Grove area, directly accessible from the Intracoastal Waterway with docking facilities
- $17.5 million facility completed in 2000
- 75,000 sq. ft. of net indoor space; will increase to approximately 100,000 sq. ft. with construction of new addition
- A distinct Business of Biotechnology program, started in 2005, offers
post-doctoral fellows the chance to work on the most advanced
research in marine biotechnology
while getting their Master of Business Administration degrees at UNCW
Research:
- Recognized as a national site for conducting research that contributes to understanding environmental processes and problems - particularly in the area of harmful algal blooms
- Graduate education in marine science
- Unique pilot project program to ensure continued cutting-edge science
- Research funding has grown from approximately $9 in 2001 to more than $39 million in 2006
Our Mission Statement
The Center for Marine Science at UNC Wilmington is dedicated to providing an environment that fosters a multidisciplinary approach to questions in basic marine research. The mission of the center is to promote basic and applied research in the fields of oceanography, coastal and wetland studies, marine biomedical and environmental physiology, and marine biotechnology and aquaculture. Faculty members conducting marine science research in the departments of biology and marine biology , chemistry and biochemistry, physics and physical oceanography and geography and geology participate in this program. The center fosters research programs of the highest quality and thereby enhances the educational experience provided by The University of North Carolina Wilmington for both undergraduate and graduate students in marine science.
