Water Initiative Updates
The updates below reflect progress made toward the goals for this initiative.
Fall 2024
Besides human talent, the most valuable global resource of the next 50 years will be water – who has too much, and who has too little. This year, a historic $100 million gift from Jane Batten HON '17, L.H.D. '19, the largest in our university's 331-year history, established the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences. This investment positions W&M's Batten School & VIMS as global leaders in tackling pressing challenges like sea-level rise and flooding. W&M is also set to debut Virginia's first Bachelor of Science in Coastal & Marine Sciences at a public university in July 2025. Explore our university's renowned expertise in science-driven solutions.
Spring 2023
This spring the university announced an institution-wide coastal resiliency initiative, led by VIMS, the nation’s leading marine science institute focused on coastal resilience. Harnessing W&M’s strengths in coastal sciences, policy, economics, conservation and law, the new initiative will expand research and address stakeholder, business and policymaker needs in Virginia. Other high-impact initiatives include:
- A national project to remove derelict fishing gear from coastal waters, recommended for an $8M grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
- The formation of a cross-university team of natural scientists, social scientists and humanists studying conservation and social issues in Nepal;
- The Whole of Government Center for Excellence’s Annual National Security Conference focused on “Fostering Climate Resilience for a More Secure World.”
Fall 2022
Marine Science and W&M's other schools are scaling up robust research collaborations and building innovative new connections to ensure that W&M is leading in water-related scholarship, education, outreach and engagement. Scholars studying economic resilience, renewable energy, coastal ecosystems, policy and law are partnering on initiatives that will spur conservation and sustainability around the world. In addition, W&M is growing academic programming for undergraduates in this field to complement the world-class graduate programs that already flourish here.
Spring 2022
Since February 2022, W&M's Virginia Institute of Marine Science has secured additional funding from the state legislature to advance innovative work in coastal and marine ecosystems. While that important work moves forward, we are considering restructuring existing areas and catalyzing new transdisciplinary thinking around the biggest water-related challenges in coastal and marine systems. We are also strengthening current partnerships and creating new ones with other academic institutions, the private sector and the government to strengthen our leadership in building resiliency in our oceans, coasts and waterways.
