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 Comeback Continues for Virginia's Bay Scallops Thanks to more than a decade of restoration efforts, the population of bay scallops in Virginia's southern coastal bays may be approaching sustainable levels.

In the News Tack Lecture Brings Salt Marsh to Sadler Center Dive into the salt marsh with marine ecologist David Johnson at William & Mary’s fall Tack Lecture on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Sadler Center’s Commonwealth Auditorium.

In the News Marine Life Day Breaks Records, Inspires Hundreds at Eastern Shore Lab VIMS and Batten School researchers, students and volunteers introduced a record number of attendees to a broad spectrum of marine science experiences.

In the News Summer Camps Provide Hands-On Learning for Young Students VIMS and the Batten School welcome rising third through eighth graders for week-long programs focused on the Chesapeake Bay, coastal ecosystems and environmental stewardship.

In the News W&M’s Camp Launch Program at VIMS and the Batten School Aims to Change Lives The Camp Launch experience at VIMS and the Batten School provides students entering ninth and 10th grade with unique opportunities for hands-on marine science learning.

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.

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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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