Dean (since 1985): Carolyn A. Thoroughgood
Mission statement:
To advance the knowledge, use and conservation of global, estuarine and coastal ocean environments through a program of excellence in research, teaching and service.
Programs:
Marine Biology and Biochemistry
Marine Policy
Ocean Science and Engineering
Oceanography
Student enrollment (full-time and part-time, as of fall 2000):
99 (all graduate students)
Full-time faculty (as of fall 2000): 32
Significant events and accomplishments:
- The college's research makes national and international headlines. Topics range from Xiao-Hai Yan's research on El Niño to Craig Cary's research on the hottest animal on Earth, a worm discovered at deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
- A two-way interactive television system has been installed at the college, enabling students from the Newark and Lewes campuses to attend the same course from either location.
- On Oct. 23, 1993, the Lammot du Pont Chemistry, Biochemistry and Marine Sciences Laboratory was officially dedicated. Its world-class, ultra-clean marine labs help advance the college's trace-metal research.
- Coast Day, now the University's single largest public education event, was inducted into the Delaware Tourism Hall of Fame in 1994.
- The Lewes campus was renamed and dedicated on May 18, 1994, as a lasting tribute to Hugh R. Sharp Jr., founder of the Marine Associates. The 120-foot research vessel Cape Henlopen, a member of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System fleet, continues to support the activities of UD marine scientists as well as other ocean researchers from across the region. Projects range from water chemistry studies in Delaware Bay to shark research.
- The college is one of only four marine institutions to be awarded a Graduate Research Traineeship from the National Science Foundation, which has allowed the college to recruit outstanding students for training in coastal oceanography.
- UD is one of only two U.S. institutions selected to advance the North American Partnership in Marine Policy/Coastal Zone Management Education, a program established by the governments of the United States, Canada and Mexico to encourage cooperation and exchange among institutions of higher education.
- The Center for Remote Sensing was named a NASA Center of Excellence, an award carrying a $150,000 grant for new scientific instrumentation to enhance teaching and research efforts.
- The college outreach staff earned state, regional, national and international awards for excellence in communications and public education from organizations ranging from the State Tourism Office to the National Federation of Press Women.
- The new Physical Ocean Science and Engineering Program was approved in 1998, aimed at preparing students for careers in coastal engineering, physical oceanography, underwater acoustics and other professions requiring a keen understanding of ocean physics.
- In 1998, the college hosted special activities in honor of the International Year of the Ocean, including lecture series in Wilmington and Lewes; a visit by "Whaling Wall" artist Wyland to Coast Day, where he inspired youngsters to paint a 24-foot-long ocean mural; and a lecture by Robert Ballard that drew record crowds to the Bob Carpenter Center.
- In January 2000, scientists from the college led Extreme 2000, the first deep-sea expedition of the new millennium to hydrothermal vents in the Sea of Cortés. The Marine Communications Office extended the project to classrooms and the public via a resource guide, video by PBS station WHYY-TV and a phone call between scientists in the submarine Alvin and students in Delaware, New Jersey and California. The project web site has received international media attention.
- Facilities in both Newark and Lewes were renovated and updated.
