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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Scientist Chelsea Clifford explores a ditch near Woodville Park in Gloucester, VA.

In the News Ditches as Multifunctional Waterways Ditches do more than drain. With smart management, these often overlooked waterways can filter runoff, support wildlife and act as signals for water quality issues and sea level rise.

Underwater shot of submerged aquatic vegetation

In the News Seagrass Swap Could Reshape Bay Food Web Study shows an ongoing transition from eelgrass to widgeon grass as the dominant seagrass species in the Chesapeake Bay could have ecological impacts across food webs, fisheries and ecosystem functions.

In the News Eastern Shore Interns Thrive in Summer Program Dedicated to Local Students Made possible by the ongoing generosity of passionate supporters, the Bonnie Sue Internship Program provides applied summer research experiences to local students from the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

In the News The Newest Students at the Batten School & VIMS Are Eager to Make an Impact With diverse backgrounds and an impressive array of accomplishments, the 17 new graduate students — along with 11 new undergrads — are excited to learn and apply their talents to developing science for solutions.

In the News First Coastal & Marine Sciences Undergraduates Arrive at the Batten School & VIMS The 11-student cohort launches a one-of-a-kind program that blends classroom rigor with hands-on field and research experiences bolstered by transformative philanthropy.

W&M's Batten School & VIMS scientists sample for benthic macroinvertabrates at a living shoreline in Captain Sinclair Recreational Area in Gloucester, VA. Photo provided by Donna Bilkovic

In the News Tidal Marshes Generate $90 Million Annually for Virginia Communities A recent study is the first to calculate the economic benefits of Virginia's natural and man-made wetlands and led to the development of SHORE-BET, a novel tool designed to support coastal communities by estimating the economic benefits of marshes and living shoreline projects.

In the News Annual Bay SAV Survey Shows Mixed Results Results from the Chesapeake Bay 2024 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Survey showed record-breaking gains in salty regions that were offset by mid-Bay losses for a 1% loss overall.

A Living Laboratory Turns 25 For 25 years, the Carl Hershner Teaching Marsh has served as an outdoor classroom and living laboratory. Join us on August 21 at 7 p.m. for a special After Hours lecture dedicated to the history and significance of this educational resource.

Photo of an egg-bearing blue crab by Alex Schneider.

In the News Can a Parasitic Worm Help Rebuild Blue Crab Populations? A new study confirms the potential of a parasitic worm as a biomarker for determining the number of times a blue crab has spawned, which may aid in the management of the Chesapeake Bay’s most valuable fishery.

In the News Report Details the Health of the York Watershed System A landmark publication released by the York River and Small Coastal Basin Roundtable offers the first comprehensive assessment of environmental trends, threats and opportunities in the York River and its surrounding watersheds in 25 years.

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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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