Institute of Marine Sciences

Rick Luettich, Director

Institute of Marine Sciences
3431 Arendell Street
Morehead City, NC 28557
PHONE: (252) 726-6841
FAX: (252) 726-2426
ims@unc.edu

The Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) is an off campus unit of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Institute's mission is to serve the state and nation through the conduct of high quality basic and applied marine sciences research, the training of students and young scientists, and the provision of professional expertise and leadership in marine issues ranging from local to global scale.

IMS faculty are actively involved in:

• addressing important scientific questions related to the nature, use, development, protection, and enhancement of marine resources,
• developing and applying technologically-advanced approaches to field, laboratory, and analytical problems,
• communicating research results and new technologies to professional and public audiences and,
• providing consultative assistance to facilitate the application of new knowledge to practical marine problems and marine policy.

Most IMS faculty members hold joint appointments in the Department of Marine Sciences in Chapel Hill. Students spending time at IMS gain "hands on" field and laboratory experience and contribute to the Institute's mission by working with faculty on a wide range of research projects.

IMS also serves as a field site for the UNC Institute of the Environment. Through this program, in-residence undergraduate students participate in laboratory and field-based courses and investigate environmental research questions focused on such diverse subjects as risk analysis, ecosystem health, water quality, fisheries management, public policy and decision making, biodiversity and environmental law.

Institute facilities are made available to other UNC faculty and students with marine-related research interests. Several campus faculty retain lab space at IMS and use it as a base of operations for coastal field work. Scientists from other UNC institutions (e.g., NCSU, ECU, ECSU) also use the facilities as needed.

UNC-CH Institute of Marine Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages active participation by minorities and other underrepresented groups.