The University of Southern Mississippi is hoping to step up its place in marine education and research with the formation of a new school.
The School of Ocean Science and Technology, housed within the College of Science and Technology, brings together marine-related research and education programs under one administration and harnesses elements from key areas of the university including the Division of Marine Science based at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County; the USM Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and Division of Coastal Sciences in Ocean Springs and the university’s fleet of five research vessels.
USM Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Steven Moser, said in a news release that the new school will help position the university as a national leader in marine science research.
“Our faculty and staff in the school will continue to provide high-quality educational and research opportunities in the northern Gulf of Mexico, allowing us to better understand our coastal resources and the associated impacts those resources have on our economy and community,” Moser said.