Institute of Marine Science

The Institute of Marine Science conducts marine science studies in the world's oceans, with special emphasis on arctic and Pacific subarctic waters.

The faculty provide expertise in chemical, geological and physical oceanography and marine biology. Instruction is carried out through a minor in marine science and the graduate program in marine sciences and limnology in the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, where degrees are offered at the master's and doctoral levels.

Research efforts cover a wide range of disciplines, and some projects are components of large national and international cooperative programs that are worldwide in extent. Institute of Marine Science researchers also participate actively in the broad marine science community through service on a variety of national and international steering committees, boards, panels and advisory committees.

Research facilities include modern laboratories on the Fairbanks campus; the Seward Marine Center, a major coastal facility in Seward; and the Kasitsna Bay Laboratory, a marine biology field station on Kachemak Bay; and the 261-foot global class ice-strengthened research vessel Sikuliaq. The Seward Marine Center supports a high-quality seawater system and excellent biological and chemical laboratories and is the Sikuliaq's home port. The Alaska SeaLife Center, a private state-of-the-art mammal and bird research and exhibition facility adjacent to the Seward Marine Center, also offers outstanding research facilities.

Institute of Marine Science research programs include the Virtual Tsunami Center; Alaska Natural Geography in Shore Areas, Census of Marine Life; Ocean Acidification Research Center; GAK1, Gulf of Alaska CTD Time Series; GOAIERP, Gulf of Alaska Integrated Ecosystem Research Program; RUSALCA, Russian-American Long-Term Census of the Arctic; and NEWNET/ORION, a radiation and climatological monitoring program through autonomous stations at Fairbanks, Seward, Nome, Kotzebue, Point Hope and Barrow. Laboratories and specialists cover areas including acoustics; algae, biological, chemical, fisheries, geological and physical oceanography; marine biology; mammals; pathology and ecosystems; remote sensing; seagrass studies; and underwater instrumentation.

The main offices, laboratories and computer facilities of IMS are located in the William A. O'Neill, Laurence Irving II and Arctic Health Research buildings on the west ridge of the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. For more information, visit www.ims.uaf.edu or call 907-474-7229.