The Marine Science Research Building is prominently situated along a corridor of environmental and ocean research buildings, with unobstructed views of the Santa Barbara Coastline and the deep blue waters of our Pacific Ocean. Designed for research and collaboration, the Marine Science Research Building has three wings surrounding an open-air courtyard, which together support fundamental and solutions-based marine, freshwater, and coastal research.

The Marine Science Research Building spans 63,000 square feet in size (35,270 internal) with 5 floors of modern state-of-the-art laboratories, seawater workspaces, controlled environment rooms, and beautiful mixed and single office spaces. Shared spaces include a large second-floor patio with ocean and mountain views, outdoor alcoves with areas for collaboration, 3 conference rooms, and an auditorium (100 capacity) that serves as a gathering space for students, faculty, distinguished visitors, and community.

Researchers from departments across campus utilize the Marine Science Research Building - from Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology to Geography to Engineering, and others. Each year more than 300 research projects funded by over 100 different awarding agencies are administered by the Marine Science Institute.

Faculty, professional researchers, and students have generated and managed over $410 million dollars in contracts and grants for research funding over the last 20 years.

Currently, the Marine Science Institute manages $140 million dollars in projects and programs, 142 professional academic appointments, 28 postdoctoral researchers, 90 graduate students, and 68 undergraduate researchers.

The Marine Science Institute facilitates several hubs for collaborative ocean science, including the Benioff Ocean Science Lab, Santa Barbara Coastal and Moorea Long Term Ecological Research programs, the Coastal & Ocean Policy Center, the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans, and the Santa Barbara Bight Marine Biodiversity Observation Network.

Research programs range from local to global – from how to effectively protect and restore kelp forests in the Santa Barbara Channel to understanding climate impacts on the productive marine ecosystems surrounding Antarctica to advancing the health of coral reef ecosystems in the tropical Pacific.