The University of Maryland - Eastern Shore, with its partners, Delaware State University, Hampton University, Savannah State University, the University of Maryland Marine Biotechnology Institute’s Center of Marine Biotechnology and the University of Miami Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences have established a Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore campus. This Center is part of NOAA’s Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions.

The mission of the Center is; “To conduct ecological research on marine and estuarine systems in order to promote equal educational, research and advancement opportunities for all students who aspire to pursue careers in the marine science.” The Center has established the following goals to accomplish this mission:

• Enhance the academic program capacities of the Center’s collaborating Minority Serving Institutions,
• Establish research programs in the marine sciences, and
• Generate a pool of scholars entering the marine sciences.

A virtual campus will be developed that links the institutions and NOAA together. This will enable the Center and its collaborating institutions to offer a wider range of educational opportunities. The campus will also link an interactive group consisting of investigators from the collaborating institutions that will develop programs in key areas that are congruent with NOAA’s research priorities, strengthen existing collaborative programs that have a wide range of stakeholders, and develop programs that enhance the practical education of undergraduate and graduate students in the marine sciences. Another goal of the Center is to provide an increased pool of under-represented groups who meet the human resource needs of NOAA.