Institute for Applied Marine Ecology

Our Mission

The mission of CSUMB's Marine Science Research program, formerly the Institute for Applied Marine Ecology (IfAME), is to develop clear linkages between ecological phenomena and potential and realized management regimes along the California coast, across the US, and throughout the world. Using cutting-edge technology, the goal of the Marine Science Research program is to provide insight, to reorganize thinking, and to improve paradigms for understanding the interaction of marine ecological systems and human activities.

The Need

The need for the Marine Science Research program is predicated on two persistent challenges within the marine science and management community:
• A significant disconnect between much of the science conducted by academia and the actual needs of those responsible for management and policy development. Well-intentioned academic efforts often fall short in addressing specific government needs due to a fundamental lack of understanding as to how the government functions and what its precise needs are. Government agencies, in turn, responding to the exigencies of management, are often compelled to act without communicating with academic scientists to determine precisely what data are available or needed.

• Insufficient financial support from either State or Federal agencies directed towards conducting the critical science necessary to underlie major policy initiatives. These unfunded mandates undermine the success of the initiatives and ultimately the marine environment loses.

The Vision

The Marine Science Research program addresses the expressed disconnect through the conduct of strategically-planned, user-driven scientific research in support of specific manager and decision-maker needs. Specifically, agency employees are frequently engaged directly in the planning, execution, and/or analysis of field research projects. In this way, the transition from completed science to realized management and/or decision-making is streamlined.

The Marine Science Research program addresses this challenge of limited financial support by engaging a continuous stream of undergraduate and graduate research assistants in the conduct of all our projects. In this way, the students are direct participants in the execution of applied research projects, while the government agencies effectively expand the footprint of what they are able to take on by collaborating with our program.

The Approach

The CSUMB faculty of marine science developed a restructured organizational design that sustainably couples the strong extramural research programs, growing academic curriculum, and established community engagement programs.

The Marine Science Research program presents a unified public face and serves as the primary vehicle for linking the Marine Science Curriculum, regional community engagement programs, and external partnerships.

Facilities & Operations

Training is available in the safe use of CSUMB's small, trailerable vessels

SMALL BOATS PROGRAM

><> Program Contact: Dr. Steve Moore, stmoore@csumb.edu
CSUMB is an organizational member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS)

SCIENTIFIC DIVING

><> CSUMB Research Diving Program website
><> The MSCI 380 course provides training techniques for scientific divers.
Resources

LAB & FIELD EQUIPMENT

><> Ecosytem Electronics Lab Resources
><> Marine Landscape Ecology Tools
><> Image Analysis Lab
Geospatial hardware, software, training and support is available for all CSUMB students, staff, and faculty

GEOSPATIAL RESOURCES

><> csumb.edu/gis
Legacy Data

DATA PORTALS

><> Seafloor Mapping Lab Data Library
><> California Undersea Imagery Archive (CUIA)
><> SCID: Sanctuary Characterization Tool
><> Integrated Time-series Data (future)
><> CeNCOOS Portal

Marine Science Team

James Lindholm

Chair, Department of Marine Science
James W. Rote Distinguished Professor of Marine Science & Policy - Rote Program
Chair of Research Diving Program jlindholm@csumb.edu
www.jameslindholm.com
831.582.4662
Image Analysis Lab
California Undersea Imagery Archive