The University of Texas Marine Science Institute
@utmsi.bsky.social
The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) advances the knowledge of coastal and blue water oceans with exceptional research, innovative teaching, and diverse public outreach programs.
🌊 Our UTMSI scientists are at the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation 2025 Conference, sharing research on coastal ecosystems. We’re proud to be part of this global conversation—and even more excited that Dr. Sharon Herzka, CERF President-Elect, is leading the way!
November 13, 2025 at 10:47 PM
🌊 Our UTMSI scientists are at the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation 2025 Conference, sharing research on coastal ecosystems. We’re proud to be part of this global conversation—and even more excited that Dr. Sharon Herzka, CERF President-Elect, is leading the way!
Stars Over Port A – Benefit for the ARK 🌌
Tomorrow, Nov. 8, 5–7:30 p.m. at the Sip Yard Port Aransas! Enjoy live music, great food (Wok On, Vibe Tacos, Slicee’s), and two drinks with your ticket—all supporting the ARK.
Tickets: $60.
RSVP: (361) 332-6361
#StarsOverPortA #ARK
Tomorrow, Nov. 8, 5–7:30 p.m. at the Sip Yard Port Aransas! Enjoy live music, great food (Wok On, Vibe Tacos, Slicee’s), and two drinks with your ticket—all supporting the ARK.
Tickets: $60.
RSVP: (361) 332-6361
#StarsOverPortA #ARK
November 7, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Stars Over Port A – Benefit for the ARK 🌌
Tomorrow, Nov. 8, 5–7:30 p.m. at the Sip Yard Port Aransas! Enjoy live music, great food (Wok On, Vibe Tacos, Slicee’s), and two drinks with your ticket—all supporting the ARK.
Tickets: $60.
RSVP: (361) 332-6361
#StarsOverPortA #ARK
Tomorrow, Nov. 8, 5–7:30 p.m. at the Sip Yard Port Aransas! Enjoy live music, great food (Wok On, Vibe Tacos, Slicee’s), and two drinks with your ticket—all supporting the ARK.
Tickets: $60.
RSVP: (361) 332-6361
#StarsOverPortA #ARK
You may have noticed a surge in jellyfish lately. While populations appear to be rising, their gelatinous bodies and drifting nature make them notoriously difficult to track. That’s where science steps in. A new instrument on the UTMSI research pier can record smaller stages of jellyfish. 📷 Herzka
October 27, 2025 at 7:48 PM
You may have noticed a surge in jellyfish lately. While populations appear to be rising, their gelatinous bodies and drifting nature make them notoriously difficult to track. That’s where science steps in. A new instrument on the UTMSI research pier can record smaller stages of jellyfish. 📷 Herzka
Big news! Since 1974, we've been educating K–12 students & visitors. Now, with SEA, we’re expanding our reach with a mobile classroom—bringing ocean learning directly to Coastal Bend schools and festivals. Thank you, SEA, for your continued support and congrats on 25 yrs!
October 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Big news! Since 1974, we've been educating K–12 students & visitors. Now, with SEA, we’re expanding our reach with a mobile classroom—bringing ocean learning directly to Coastal Bend schools and festivals. Thank you, SEA, for your continued support and congrats on 25 yrs!
In honor of National Campus Safety Awareness Month, we thank the Port Aransas Police, EMS & Fire Dept. for joining us, and Jim Moreno for leading the program. Together, we strengthened campus safety & preparedness.
#CampusSafety #CommunityPartners #PortAransas
#CampusSafety #CommunityPartners #PortAransas
September 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
In honor of National Campus Safety Awareness Month, we thank the Port Aransas Police, EMS & Fire Dept. for joining us, and Jim Moreno for leading the program. Together, we strengthened campus safety & preparedness.
#CampusSafety #CommunityPartners #PortAransas
#CampusSafety #CommunityPartners #PortAransas
Bob and Kevin are back in action! Yesterday, a 2nd Sofar buoy "Kevin" was deployed at West Flower Garden Bank by FGBNMS scientists. The Hu Lab will use the data from both Kevin and Bob to monitor the environmental health of the coral reefs.🔹 Meet Kevin: spotters.sofarocean.com/historical/S...
#UTMSI
#UTMSI
September 23, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Bob and Kevin are back in action! Yesterday, a 2nd Sofar buoy "Kevin" was deployed at West Flower Garden Bank by FGBNMS scientists. The Hu Lab will use the data from both Kevin and Bob to monitor the environmental health of the coral reefs.🔹 Meet Kevin: spotters.sofarocean.com/historical/S...
#UTMSI
#UTMSI
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Caitlin Neill 🌟
Research Tech in the Nielsen Lab, “Drip Master” of Solid Phase Extraction, and lifelong learner. Outside the lab, she enjoys sewing, crocheting, music & softball. If she were a marine organism? A Christmas Tree Worm!
📷: Izzy Nelson
#UTMSI #StaffSpotlight
Research Tech in the Nielsen Lab, “Drip Master” of Solid Phase Extraction, and lifelong learner. Outside the lab, she enjoys sewing, crocheting, music & softball. If she were a marine organism? A Christmas Tree Worm!
📷: Izzy Nelson
#UTMSI #StaffSpotlight
August 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
🌟 Staff Spotlight: Caitlin Neill 🌟
Research Tech in the Nielsen Lab, “Drip Master” of Solid Phase Extraction, and lifelong learner. Outside the lab, she enjoys sewing, crocheting, music & softball. If she were a marine organism? A Christmas Tree Worm!
📷: Izzy Nelson
#UTMSI #StaffSpotlight
Research Tech in the Nielsen Lab, “Drip Master” of Solid Phase Extraction, and lifelong learner. Outside the lab, she enjoys sewing, crocheting, music & softball. If she were a marine organism? A Christmas Tree Worm!
📷: Izzy Nelson
#UTMSI #StaffSpotlight
On Aug 22, the GSA hosted the 1st MSI Graduate Student Symposium at the Patton Center with 9 presenters from Integrative Biology & Chemistry. Thanks to the College of Natural Sciences , MSI Director Sharon Herzka, UTMSI GSA & Student Services Budget Committee for support!
August 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
On Aug 22, the GSA hosted the 1st MSI Graduate Student Symposium at the Patton Center with 9 presenters from Integrative Biology & Chemistry. Thanks to the College of Natural Sciences , MSI Director Sharon Herzka, UTMSI GSA & Student Services Budget Committee for support!
In the past year, ARK at UTMSI cared for 1,204 animals — including 574 sea turtles, hundreds of birds, and a few freshwater turtles. 🦅🐢
Sea Turtle Hotline: 1-866-TURTLE5
Bird Hotline: (361) 749-6793
📷 Big Kahunas, a loggerhead sea turtle, released Oct.
Sea Turtle Hotline: 1-866-TURTLE5
Bird Hotline: (361) 749-6793
📷 Big Kahunas, a loggerhead sea turtle, released Oct.
August 19, 2025 at 2:03 PM
In the past year, ARK at UTMSI cared for 1,204 animals — including 574 sea turtles, hundreds of birds, and a few freshwater turtles. 🦅🐢
Sea Turtle Hotline: 1-866-TURTLE5
Bird Hotline: (361) 749-6793
📷 Big Kahunas, a loggerhead sea turtle, released Oct.
Sea Turtle Hotline: 1-866-TURTLE5
Bird Hotline: (361) 749-6793
📷 Big Kahunas, a loggerhead sea turtle, released Oct.
🎓 Big congrats to our newest Master's grad, Kody Barone!
His research explored how mangrove dieback from the 2021 freeze impacts blue carbon storage in South Texas marshes—highlighting the resilience of soil carbon in coastal wetlands.
#UTMSI #BlueCarbon #Mangroves #TexasScience
His research explored how mangrove dieback from the 2021 freeze impacts blue carbon storage in South Texas marshes—highlighting the resilience of soil carbon in coastal wetlands.
#UTMSI #BlueCarbon #Mangroves #TexasScience
August 13, 2025 at 11:01 PM
🎓 Big congrats to our newest Master's grad, Kody Barone!
His research explored how mangrove dieback from the 2021 freeze impacts blue carbon storage in South Texas marshes—highlighting the resilience of soil carbon in coastal wetlands.
#UTMSI #BlueCarbon #Mangroves #TexasScience
His research explored how mangrove dieback from the 2021 freeze impacts blue carbon storage in South Texas marshes—highlighting the resilience of soil carbon in coastal wetlands.
#UTMSI #BlueCarbon #Mangroves #TexasScience
Being a scientist has its benefits, especially when it’s 100F+ in Texas. The Nielsen Lab and USGS colleagues are enjoying cooler weather while sampling at Grewingk Glacier in Alaska to learn about the sources, export, fate, and bioavailability of #mercury released by rapidly retreating glaciers.
August 7, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Being a scientist has its benefits, especially when it’s 100F+ in Texas. The Nielsen Lab and USGS colleagues are enjoying cooler weather while sampling at Grewingk Glacier in Alaska to learn about the sources, export, fate, and bioavailability of #mercury released by rapidly retreating glaciers.
Kelly Dorgan will join UT's cohort for the 2025-2026 Research Leaders Academy. Congrats Kelly!
research.utexas.edu/news/new-coh...
research.utexas.edu/news/new-coh...
July 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Kelly Dorgan will join UT's cohort for the 2025-2026 Research Leaders Academy. Congrats Kelly!
research.utexas.edu/news/new-coh...
research.utexas.edu/news/new-coh...
The latest edition of our newsletter is here! 🤿 Dive into updates, behind-the-scenes stories, research discoveries, and the exciting work happening at the UT Marine Science Institute 🔗 indd.adobe.com/view/33a38a8...
#Newsletter #MarineScience #TexasScience #UTMSI
#Newsletter #MarineScience #TexasScience #UTMSI
July 10, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The latest edition of our newsletter is here! 🤿 Dive into updates, behind-the-scenes stories, research discoveries, and the exciting work happening at the UT Marine Science Institute 🔗 indd.adobe.com/view/33a38a8...
#Newsletter #MarineScience #TexasScience #UTMSI
#Newsletter #MarineScience #TexasScience #UTMSI
From Classroom to Coastline! 🌊🌱Thirteen educators explored coastal science at the July 7–9 TOTE Workshop in Port Aransas, hosted by Mission-Aransas NERR. Hands-on fieldwork and NOAA resources will help them bring estuary science to their classrooms.
#TOTEWorkshop #MissionAransasNERR #UTMSI
#TOTEWorkshop #MissionAransasNERR #UTMSI
July 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
From Classroom to Coastline! 🌊🌱Thirteen educators explored coastal science at the July 7–9 TOTE Workshop in Port Aransas, hosted by Mission-Aransas NERR. Hands-on fieldwork and NOAA resources will help them bring estuary science to their classrooms.
#TOTEWorkshop #MissionAransasNERR #UTMSI
#TOTEWorkshop #MissionAransasNERR #UTMSI
Congratulations to Ph.D. student Hannah Rempel on receiving a grant from the International Women's Fishing Association Scholarship Trust in support of her research on the impact of pollutants on reef fishes. 🐠
#Congratulations #IWFA #UTMSI #TexasScience
#Congratulations #IWFA #UTMSI #TexasScience
July 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Congratulations to Ph.D. student Hannah Rempel on receiving a grant from the International Women's Fishing Association Scholarship Trust in support of her research on the impact of pollutants on reef fishes. 🐠
#Congratulations #IWFA #UTMSI #TexasScience
#Congratulations #IWFA #UTMSI #TexasScience
The campus, including the Patton Center, is closed on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. We’ll resume normal hours on Saturday, July 5 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
Have a safe and happy Fourth! 🇺🇸
#UTMSI #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay #PortAransas
Have a safe and happy Fourth! 🇺🇸
#UTMSI #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay #PortAransas
June 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The campus, including the Patton Center, is closed on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day. We’ll resume normal hours on Saturday, July 5 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
Have a safe and happy Fourth! 🇺🇸
#UTMSI #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay #PortAransas
Have a safe and happy Fourth! 🇺🇸
#UTMSI #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay #PortAransas
UT Summer Science has concluded after three impactful weeks in Port Aransas. Students engaged in snorkeling, fishing, marine technology, and fieldwork.
Thanks to our sponsors and partners!
More programs: utmsi.utexas.edu
Thanks to our sponsors and partners!
More programs: utmsi.utexas.edu
June 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
UT Summer Science has concluded after three impactful weeks in Port Aransas. Students engaged in snorkeling, fishing, marine technology, and fieldwork.
Thanks to our sponsors and partners!
More programs: utmsi.utexas.edu
Thanks to our sponsors and partners!
More programs: utmsi.utexas.edu
Staff Spotlight: Maggie Weston 🌟
Maggie is the Education Assistant at the Bay Education Center in Rockport. She leads engaging programs like Science On a Sphere & loves sharing marine science with the next generation.
#UTMSI #StaffSpotlight #TexasScience #ScienceEducation
Maggie is the Education Assistant at the Bay Education Center in Rockport. She leads engaging programs like Science On a Sphere & loves sharing marine science with the next generation.
#UTMSI #StaffSpotlight #TexasScience #ScienceEducation
June 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Staff Spotlight: Maggie Weston 🌟
Maggie is the Education Assistant at the Bay Education Center in Rockport. She leads engaging programs like Science On a Sphere & loves sharing marine science with the next generation.
#UTMSI #StaffSpotlight #TexasScience #ScienceEducation
Maggie is the Education Assistant at the Bay Education Center in Rockport. She leads engaging programs like Science On a Sphere & loves sharing marine science with the next generation.
#UTMSI #StaffSpotlight #TexasScience #ScienceEducation
The Campus, including the Patton Center, is closed in observance of Juneteenth. We'll resume normal hours tomorrow and be open (10am-4pm).
June 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Campus, including the Patton Center, is closed in observance of Juneteenth. We'll resume normal hours tomorrow and be open (10am-4pm).
Congrats to grad student Bailey Bonham, winner of UTMSI’s Visualizing Marine Science competition! Her image of Gulf toadfish pigment cells reveals how this predator blends into its reef home. See one up close at the Patton Center!
Institute Insights: shorturl.at/uNM69
Institute Insights: shorturl.at/uNM69
June 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Congrats to grad student Bailey Bonham, winner of UTMSI’s Visualizing Marine Science competition! Her image of Gulf toadfish pigment cells reveals how this predator blends into its reef home. See one up close at the Patton Center!
Institute Insights: shorturl.at/uNM69
Institute Insights: shorturl.at/uNM69
Congrats to Tamara Rivera, PhD student in the Nielsen Lab, on receiving the Marion E. Eason Scholarship to support her mercury research in Kachemak Bay, Alaska! Her work explores climate-driven mercury risks to ecosystems and communities.
📷: Kerri Lynn Ackerly
#UTMSI #NielsenLab
📷: Kerri Lynn Ackerly
#UTMSI #NielsenLab
June 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Congrats to Tamara Rivera, PhD student in the Nielsen Lab, on receiving the Marion E. Eason Scholarship to support her mercury research in Kachemak Bay, Alaska! Her work explores climate-driven mercury risks to ecosystems and communities.
📷: Kerri Lynn Ackerly
#UTMSI #NielsenLab
📷: Kerri Lynn Ackerly
#UTMSI #NielsenLab
On World Ocean Day, we celebrate the pursuit of knowledge—through science, education, and outreach—that deepens our understanding of ocean and coastal systems. Our mission: to improve understanding of the marine environment through rigorous research. 🌍🌊
#WorldOceanDay #UTMSI #TexasScience
#WorldOceanDay #UTMSI #TexasScience
June 8, 2025 at 2:01 PM
On World Ocean Day, we celebrate the pursuit of knowledge—through science, education, and outreach—that deepens our understanding of ocean and coastal systems. Our mission: to improve understanding of the marine environment through rigorous research. 🌍🌊
#WorldOceanDay #UTMSI #TexasScience
#WorldOceanDay #UTMSI #TexasScience