Public Education, Outreach & Community Engagement

Public Programs - Tell a Friend!

Quick link: Public Programs

Help others learn about coastal systems, marine creatures, the Chesapeake Bay, and the solutions-focused science we do at VIMS by recommending our public programs.  

VIMS regularly offers Public Tours, After Hours Lecture and Scientist Walks Into a Bar series, a VIMS Speaker's Bureau, and our Annual Marine Science Day open house event.

The Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERR-VA) at VIMS offers fun, family-friendly Discovery Labs, school programs and summer programs for kids.

Visit Public Programs for more information.

A Deeper Dive - Education & Outreach @ VIMS

VIMS Outreach - programs are designed to increase public understanding of important marine issues and, over time, build trust in marine scientists and research studies.  VIMS regularly offers Public Tours, After Hours Lecture and Scientist Walks Into a Bar series, a VIMS Speaker's Bureau, and our Annual Marine Science Day open house event.

VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory (ESL) - staff host a variety of public-education activities throughout the year, including an annual Marine Life Day in September.  You can learn more about events at the ESL by visiting them on Facebook.

Aquaculture and Breeding Technology Center (ABC) -  ABC and VIMS staff host tours of the Acuff Center for citizens, industry groups, and government officials on a regular basis. ABC scientists give talks in Gloucester Point as part of VIMS’ After Hours Lecture Series, and also travel to external sites as part of the VIMS Speaker's Bureau and other outreach programs.

Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) - the Center offers resources and a variety of education and outreach programs to diverse audiences. Their Coastal Living Guides are designed to help the public link research to action.  The Center maintains a teaching marsh on the VIMS campus and can provide technical expertise on community projects.

Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERR-VA) - CBNERR-VA's Education Program strives to enhance student, teacher and public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of estuaries by providing hands-on, investigative field experiences, curriculum and information material, multi-exposure opportunities, teacher training programs, and public outreach events. The Coastal Training Program (CTP) works with coastal decision makers to foster science-based and community-supported resource management and socio-ecological system resilience. 

Marine Advisory Program (MAP) - The VIMS Marine Advisory Program/Virginia Sea Grant Extension education team works to cultivate and advance an ocean literate society through its ocean science education resources for diverse audiences, professional development for teachers, science communication training for graduate students, and an Annual Chef's Seafood Symposium for the culinary community. 

How to Get Involved

• Volunteer at Marine Science Day (watch email for information)
• Sign up to be a speaker for the VIMS Speaker's Bureau.
• Partner with a VIMS Marine Educator to incorporate education and outreach components in your research program (see below)

Broader Impacts Support at VIMS

The VIMS Broader Impact Practitioners are a team of professionals who help foster science communication across and beyond the VIMS campus community and coordinate education and outreach programs for external audiences.  VIMS BI Practitioners often collaborate with VIMS scientists to assist in the development and implementation of BI components of research proposals. VIMS researchers, including graduate students, looking for assistance with Broader Impacts are encouraged to review the list of VIMS BI Practitioners and contact Lisa Lawrence (x7608) for additional information.

W&M Civic & Community Engagement

W&M's Civic & Community Engagement (CEE) Office works together with members of William & Mary and our broader communities to cultivate equitable and transformational relationships, and provide programming and resources for students to become lifelong community-centered leaders.

Would you like to develop opportunities for community-based learning, service-learning, or community-engaged research, or deepen your existing community-engaged efforts?  W&M Civic & Community Engagement can help, whether you're starting from scratch or just need a boost of guidance.

Visit the CEE website to explore the resources they provide for faculty or to schedule a consultation.