Mission Statement

The Institute is dedicated to the three central functions of a major university (research, education, and outreach) as they apply to the Texas coastal zone and other marine environments. As an organized research unit, the primary goal of the Marine Science Institute is to improve our understanding of the marine environment through rigorous scientific investigations. This goal is accomplished through the research efforts of the scientific staff and the training of young scientists in cooperation with The University of Texas at Austin Department of Marine Science. The research and teaching functions take advantage of the unique facilities of the Institute and its shoreside location on the Texas Gulf Coast. The Institute operates the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve in support of its mission. The Institute’s research is broad and encompasses a variety of scientific disciplines, with emphases on Organismal Biology, Ecosystem Dynamics, and Biogeochemistry. The scope of this research ranges from molecular studies to ecosystem-level biological investigations plus biogeochemical studies of coastal regions as well as the world’s oceans. The disciplines of geology and physical oceanography are incorporated into our research and training programs on Texas coastal zones. To gauge our success, we monitor the number and quality of: graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) students enrolled in the Marine Science degree program or doing research at the Institute; federal and state funding; peer-reviewed publications; awards and honors for outstanding research and teaching; and the success of students who graduate from the degree program.