The UP Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) is one of seven academic institutes of the University of the Philippines College of Science. It is housed in its own building complex within the UP Diliman Campus in Quezon City. UP MSI was originally established as the Marine Sciences Center (MSC) with the approval of its charter by the Board of Regents on 28 March 1974.
The UP Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) is one of seven academic institutes of the University of the Philippines College of Science. It is housed in its own building complex within the UP Diliman Campus in Quezon City. UP MSI was originally established as the Marine Sciences Center (MSC) with the approval of its charter by the Board of Regents on 28 March 1974.
In June 1974, the first Advisory Executive Council of the Center was formed with the appointment of Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez as acting Director. As a National Scientist, Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez pioneered coral research in the Philippines, the world’s first national-scale assessment of damage to coral reefs which led to widespread public awareness and conservation efforts around the world. He was a prominent researcher, scientist, conservation advocate, and mentor who specialized in giant clam restoration, coral reef assessment, and marine conservation.
The founding director of MSI also contributed to the baseline mapping of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, laying the foundation of the UP System’s Archipelagic Studies Program.
We are all scientists in our own right. The UP MSI aims to cultivate the culture of science and education through its Teaching and Research branches. By offering courses and supporting research in oceanography, marine biology, marine chemistry, and marine geology, the UP MSI plays a big role in shaping the discourse on the Philippine waters.
Research in the UPMSI focuses on producing scientific results that promote the sustained utilization, management, and conservation of marine and coastal environments. Research groups and collaborators work on emerging and contemporary marine science issues in biology, biotechnology, and the physical sciences.
The UPMSI offers master’s, doctorate, and professional master’s programs to train future marine scientists, policymakers, and professionals in the private sector. Students may choose to specialize in Marine Biology, Marine Physical Sciences, or Marine Biotechnology.
The UPMSI regularly hosts workshops, conferences, and training courses on survey and monitoring techniques, coastal zone management, habitat restoration, mariculture, and science-based decision support systems. Public and private agencies can also consult the UP MSI for projects related to marine protection and management, biotechnology, and product development.
Many forms of marine life have adapted to the chemical characteristics of their ecosystems; subtle changes in the chemistry of these environments have dangerous consequences to all life on earth. Marine chemistry not only helps us understand these changes, but also identify the by-products of human activity that enter the oceans as pollutants. Fundamental research in marine chemistry also allows us to build or improve monitoring and sensing technologies.
Physical variables like temperature, salinity, and density, as well as the processes occurring within the oceans, are the primary concerns of physical oceanography. These properties and processes describe the interaction between water and the atmosphere, the motion of currents, and the evolution of sea ice.
The geothermal forces and processes that occur kilometers below us predominantly shape the earth. Marine geology studies the ocean floor and coastal zone — it covers the physical and chemical properties, the sedimentology, and the paleontology of the deepest parts of the ocean. The mysteries and untapped resources of the ocean floor are priority fields in marine science research.
The Marine Science Institute values the conduct of science to harness knowledge for the development of the environment and humanity.
It seeks to achieve the following:
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