Skip to main content
Carolina Story: Virtual Museum of University History

Institute of Marine Sciences

http://dc.lib.unc.edu/utils/ajaxhelper/

The UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, located on Bogue Sound in Morehead City, North Carolina, is a research and education center dedicated to the study, conservation, and development of marine resources. The center was founded in 1947 as the Institute of Fisheries Research as its first director, Robert E. Coker, conducted the Survey of Marine Fisheries of North Carolina. This study concluded in 1951.

In 1967, the Institute was renamed the Institute of Marine Sciences to reflect its expanding focus. Today, researchers at the center study many issues affecting marine life. They analyze the impact of climate change and oil spills on marine life, assess water quality, create models predicting the potential size and impact of hurricanes, and seek ways to reduce the negative impact of human activities on coastal ecosystems. This document is a page from the proposal to found the Institute of Marine Sciences.