Jun 16, 2016 08:20 AM EDT By Tes Christian, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Southern Miss campus is now offering researchers new opportunities to conduct marine research via the New School of Ocean Science.

Set to house in the USM's College of Science and Technology, the new school also includes a Marine Science Division (Hancock County) as well as a consolidation of marine-related education programs, the Sun Herald reported. Aside from the Marine Science Division, the university's 5 research vessels, USM Gulf Coast Research Lab and Coastal Sciences Division (Ocean Springs) will also be part of the school's latest offering.

USM provost and senior VP for academic affairs Dr. Steven R. Moser expressed excitement over the Southern Mississippi campus' new School of Ocean Science and Technology. "Through the new School of Ocean Science and Technology, the university will position itself as a national leader in marine science research," according to Moser.

The school also composes a system of already existing programs which are geared towards increasing research productivity, and offer wider opportunities for outside funding. Dr. Monty Graham would be assigned director of the new school.

Dr. Graham is the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory interim director and the current chairman of the Marine Science Division at USM. Furthermore, the new School of Ocean Science would be the only school offering an undergraduate degree in the field of Marine Science, highlighting hydrographic studies.

Prior to the creation of the new school, the Coast embarked on the challenge of responding to natural disasters such as those of the 2010 oil spill and Hurricane Katrina, according to Dr. David Hayhurst. Hayhurst is the dean of USM's College of Science and Technology.

A San Diego-based non-profit organization extends its congratulations to USM's efforts in helping provide the Gulf Coast region's economic as well as environmental sustainability. Michael Jones of The Maritime Alliance said that the blue-tech cluster is already looking forward to working together with USM's School of Ocean Science in its marine science efforts.

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