The Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) at UC Santa Cruz is a collaborative hub advancing understanding of the world’s oceans—exploring their complex processes, diverse life, and the growing impacts of human activity and climate change. Researchers at IMS ask critical questions that range from the origins of ancient climates to the effects of rising sea levels, the behavior of marine mammals, and the health of kelp forests and coastal ecosystems.
From Monterey Bay to the ice shelves of Antarctica, IMS scientists study the dynamic interactions between ocean and land, with a special focus on California’s coastal zones—where human activity, biodiversity, and environmental change converge. Their work addresses urgent challenges such as ocean acidification, sea-level rise, harmful algal blooms, and the conservation of endangered species.
As part of the Coastal Science Campus, IMS partners with federal and state agencies, educational institutions, and conservation organizations, including the U.S. Geological Survey, National Marine Fisheries Service, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Together, they advance interdisciplinary research that informs public policy, guides sustainable ocean management, and supports the next generation of marine scientists.
Founded in 1976 and renamed the Institute of Marine Sciences in 1985, IMS builds on UC Santa Cruz’s long tradition of marine leadership. Its researchers, students, and collaborators work to generate the science needed for the oceans we want—fostering innovative solutions, global partnerships, and a more sustainable future for our planet’s coastal and marine ecosystems.
