learning by doing

Students from high school to graduate school come to IMS to experience this exciting research community. Its unique location with immediate access to rich estuarine and wetland habitats makes it ideally suited for studying the ecology, conservation, and restoration of coastal environments.

IMS has a wealth of resources, most notably its respected faculty, who mentor students to become scientists in a variety of fields of research. The IMS campus is also impressive and boasts 51,000 sq ft of laboratory, office, classroom, library and video conferencing space and a shop/wet laboratory building with running sea water. Outdoor ponds (concrete and earthen) provide seawater habitats for controlled experiments. A dormitory offers short-term bunking accommodations for up to 16 students and 6 faculty. A fleet of trucks and vans, outboard motor-powered boats ranging in length from 17-25 feet and a modern 48 ft coastal vessel, the R.V. Capricorn, are available for field studies. The R.V. Cape Hatteras, a fully-equipped 135 ft oceanographic ship operated by the Duke/UNC Oceanographic Consortium, is docked just minutes away.

The adjacent area hosts a unique concentration of marine science resources, including North Carolina State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST), the headquarters of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Marine Fisheries, the Duke University Laboratory, and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Facility.

field site for the

institute for the environment

To inspire curiosity and discovery about the marine environment, IMS serves as a field site for the UNC Institute for the Environment.  This semester long program allows in-residence undergraduates to explore “living classrooms,” including the Pamlico Sound, the second largest lagoonal estuary in the country and the site of dynamic larval fish and invertebrate activity. Students have the opportunity to experience offshore research expeditions with IMS faculty members, while also studying gradients from estuaries to the open ocean and gain first hand exposure to advanced shark research. Additionally, students learn about the impacts of human development and storm water on coastal receiving waters.

A speaker series brings in internationally and nationally acclaimed researchers to discuss such topics as ecosystem health, biodiversity, water quality, fisheries management, shoreline erosion, coastal hazards, risk analysis, public policy and decision making.

The coursework, field excursions, and seminar series are complemented by a collaborative, team-based research effort known as the “capstone project,” which is typically an examination of a real-world marine science problem or issue. For example, recent capstone projects have been focused on stormwater runoff, beach nourishment, and oyster reef restoration efforts. Through these projects, students gain experience in research design, teamwork, and the presentation of scientific conclusions.