USCB receives $305,000 to plan marine research facility

The University of South Carolina Beaufort has received $305,000 in state funding to begin planning a proposed marine research facility on its Beaufort campus.

The funding, approved by the South Carolina Legislature, will support preliminary work, including architectural design and technical planning.

The proposed facility is being considered as a collaborative space for USCB and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Its development would depend on additional funding, planning, approvals and formal agreements.

University officials envision a facility that would expand opportunities for undergraduate research, marine science education and conservation efforts in the Lowcountry.

“This project represents an exciting opportunity to explore new investments in the future of marine science, education and conservation in South Carolina,” said Dr. Mercer Brugler, chair of USCB’s Department of Natural Sciences. “We want to create an environment where collaboration, innovation and hands-on learning can thrive.”

The proposed facility could support existing university programs, including the Marine Sensory and Neurobiology Lab and Water Quality Lab, as well as emerging research on Pritchards Island and the region’s barrier island ecosystems.

The concept has received support from Department of Natural Resources Director Tom Mullikin, state Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, USCB Chancellor Al M. Panu and the Pritchards Island Research and Living Shores Coalition.

The proposal comes as USCB reports increasing interest in marine science programs. Since 2020, enrollment in its marine biology and coastal ecology and conservation programs has nearly tripled to more than 170 students.

The project is still in its early planning stages, with a construction timeline and overall cost to be determined as plans move forward.