University of Georgia Marine Institute

The University of Georgia Marine Institute (UGAMI) is a nearshore ecological and geological research station located on Sapelo Island off the coast of Georgia in the United States. This island lies between the Atlantic Ocean and a pristine salt marsh. A ferry takes passengers from Meridian (between Darien and Crescent) to Sapelo Island. The Island has fewer than 100 full-time residents. The Institute was created in 1953 and is currently a unit of the University of Georgia's Office of Research. The Institute is 280 miles southeast of the University of Georgia main campus in Athens.

UGAMI offers life-changing experiences for undergraduate and graduate students. Approximately 600-700 university students train at UGAMI each year. The essence of the UGAMI student experience is characterized by: Immersion, Mentorship, and Engagement. Students experience complete immersion in field-based academic studies,close mentorship by faculty who are experts in their fields of study, and engagement in a supportive community of scholars.

UGAMI does not have any stand-alone degree programs. However, it provides many training and research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students. UGAMI offers undergraduate classes, provides research experiences for graduate and undergraduate students, and is a field trip destination for university classes from all over the country. Classes visiting UGAMI on field trips usually stay 2-5 days, but some stay longer. UGA offers full-credit courses that take place entirely at the Marine Institute. As many of these classes take place during the summer, they attract students from many colleges and universities. Undergraduates in UGAMI's residential courses live and work alongside the Institute's faculty and graduate student researchers, while taking courses in topics such as marine sciences, ecology, and coastal geography. In addition, graduate students from many different institutions conduct thesis research at UGAMI for periods ranging from a few days to a few years.

UGAMI is used for both long-term and short-term research projects, conducted by scientists from many institutions. The field research conducted at UGAMI results in the publication of approximately 50 peer-reviewed scientific papers each year.

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