The Batten School & VIMS campus will be closed on Monday, March 15 due to the National Weather Service prediction for severe weather including periods of rain, damaging winds and the potential for tornadoes.

- About
- With 500+ faculty, staff and students and three campus locations, the Batten School & VIMS are equipped to tackle pressing challenges through research, education and advisory service.
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- Research & Advisory
- Purple marsh crabs are significantly disrupting carbon cycling in salt marshes along the East Coast of the U.S., according to a study led by Batten School & VIMS scientists.
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- Batten School
- The R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program will provide full tuition support for students pursuing the new bachelor’s degree in coastal & marine sciences at the Batten School & VIMS.
  
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- Engage
- Popular, free camps enable rising third through eighth graders to learn about the Chesapeake Bay, coastal ecosystems and environmental stewardship.
  
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- News & Events
- National TRAP Program funds large-scale cleanup of discarded fishing gear, first round of subawards totaling more than $1.4M supports 11 projects focused on removing derelict fishing gear from coastal waters in nine U.S. states and Palau.
  
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- Giving
- As an expression of parental pride in their daughter, Taylor Spencer ‘83 and Martha Spencer recently established an undergraduate field research endowment at the Batten School & VIMS.
  
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AquaDI

Initiative for the Management of Marine Diseases

Mission

Our mission is to provide robust science to guide effective management of diseases of aquatic resource species in waters of the Commonwealth and Chesapeake Bay region. Recent disease outbreaks have damaged economically important and ecologically sensitive marine resources in the Commonwealth. Examples include mycobacteriosis in striped bass, dermo and MSX in oysters, and Hematodinium in blue crabs, to name just a few. By leveraging our expertise in shellfish and fish pathology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, genetics and molecular biology, we are able to respond to current disease concerns and react to emerging disease threats.

crab oyster fish

Our activities include:

Provision of pathology services
Establishment of surveillance protocols
Development and optimization of diagnostic protocols
Enhancement of graduate and outreach activities related to Ecosystem Health (including Aquatic Animals).

A marine scientist at her lab station with vials in different color containers. — People

oyster bags near research pier — Research