Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Science for the Bay, Impact for the World W&M's Batten School & VIMS confront societal challenges in coastal and marine systems through innovation, research and discovery, translating findings into practical solutions and training the next generation of scientists and citizens.

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News & Features

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In the News Winners of the 26th Annual Photo Contest Showcase an Incredible Research Community The Batten School & VIMS recently recognized the most memorable and impressive photographs captured by talented faculty, staff and students. Participants in the 26th annual photo contest submitted an array of amazing images from the field and laboratory.

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In the News Bridge Funding Helps Sustain Marine Research During Uncertain Times As economic uncertainty and a shifting federal landscape put pressure on research entities by delaying, reducing and canceling funding streams, the Batten School & VIMS are taking proactive steps to safeguard our mission via the unrestricted VIMS Impact Fund.

In The News Shoring Up Naval Readiness and Ecological Resilience A multi-million-dollar project involving Naval Weapons Station Yorktown brought together a multidisciplinary team of scientists to develop solutions that protect the base while benefiting the environment.

In the News Trawling Through Time: 70 Years of the Juvenile Finfish Survey For 70 years, the Batten School & VIMS have built one of the most important data sets in fisheries science: the Juvenile Finfish Trawl Survey. Over the decades, the survey has documented major ecological shifts, including the invasive arrival of the disruptive blue catfish.

Freshly cleaned oyster broodstock. Photo by Lauren Gregg.

In the News Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels After a five-year hiatus, the Virginia Shellfish Aquaculture Situation and Outlook Report is back, highlighting sustained growth in the state’s shellfish aquaculture sector and offering insight into what challenges the industry faces.

In the News Activating Entrepreneurial Energy to Pursue Coastal & Marine Solutions Recent recipients of the Dean & Director’s Innovation Fund, which invests in early-stage research with high potential for commercial outcomes, are revolutionizing environmental DNA sampling, developing "forever chemical” detection tools and pioneering sustainable aquaculture systems.

Secretary John F. Kerry in conversation with Dean and Director Derek Aday during a fireside chat with the William & Mary community.

In The News Former Secretary of State John F. Kerry Upholds Science as Inaugural Blue Horizons Fellow The new program brings leaders, innovators to William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS to inspire, engage and collaborate.

Crew members haul a derelict blue crab trap out of the Chesapeake Bay. Photo Credit: Jordan Salafie; Oyster Recovery Partnership

In The News National TRAP Program Targets Ghostly Issue The second round of programmatic funding awarded by William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS totals $1.8M in support of 13 projects focused on removing derelict fishing gear from coastal waters.

In the News An Average Year for Juvenile Striped Bass The 2025 Juvenile Striped Bass Seine Survey recorded a mean value of 5.12 fish per seine haul, representing an improvement over the previous two years of below-average recruitment.

Matt LaGanke (left) plans to utilize his Ph.D. and sub-concentration in shellfish aquaculture to strengthen the connection between academic research and aquaculture farm practices.

In The News Shellfish Aquaculture Specialization Creates Industry-Ready Graduates The new sub-concentration in shellfish aquaculture is designed to prepare graduates to lead in the development of globally relevant science and as members of a growing industry.

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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 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. At the undergraduate level, students in the new coastal and marine sciences major receive full tuition support through The R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program. A minor in Marine Science is also available 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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