| PART II: MARINE SCIENCE OVERVIEW |
...It has been a part of the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy for so long most
people give little thought to it. Yet marine science and all it involves – from
aquaculture to finding medical cures – represents the future for South
Mississippi.
...Marine environments are seen as one of the last relatively unexplored
resources and frontiers for industry development. Consequently, areas that
develop leading edge marine industries and technologies have the potential to
supply a very wide international demand.
...And that’s where South Mississippi comes in.
...The Mississippi Gulf Coast already has the advantage of a large marine
science research infrastructure with 18 federal and university research units
located at Stennis Space Center, Biloxi and Ocean Springs.
...The federal effort alone is considerable, with operating units of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
...But most of the marine science research units in South Mississippi are run by
the universities – the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State
University and the University of Mississippi. Research runs the gamut, from
microbial ecology and genetics to remediation and hydrography.
...That research infrastructure is an important resource for companies interested
in applied marine science, including environmental consulting companies,
dredging companies, equipment manufacturers, private weather forecasting
companies, oil companies, hydrographic surveying companies, the medical and
pharmaceutical field and more.
people give little thought to it. Yet marine science and all it involves – from
aquaculture to finding medical cures – represents the future for South
Mississippi.
...Marine environments are seen as one of the last relatively unexplored
resources and frontiers for industry development. Consequently, areas that
develop leading edge marine industries and technologies have the potential to
supply a very wide international demand.
...And that’s where South Mississippi comes in.
...The Mississippi Gulf Coast already has the advantage of a large marine
science research infrastructure with 18 federal and university research units
located at Stennis Space Center, Biloxi and Ocean Springs.
...The federal effort alone is considerable, with operating units of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
...But most of the marine science research units in South Mississippi are run by
the universities – the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State
University and the University of Mississippi. Research runs the gamut, from
microbial ecology and genetics to remediation and hydrography.
...That research infrastructure is an important resource for companies interested
in applied marine science, including environmental consulting companies,
dredging companies, equipment manufacturers, private weather forecasting
companies, oil companies, hydrographic surveying companies, the medical and
pharmaceutical field and more.
| The future |
...Two developments will impact South Mississippi’s marine science research.
...In its report, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommended more
federal dollars for ocean research, in part because of the growth of ocean
research dollars in other nations. It suggested doubling the federal investment in
ocean and coastal research. That in itself is bound to impact the universities.
...The other development that will impact South Mississippi is the growing
interest in the field of marine biotechnology. It is still hard to gauge just how big
an impact it will have on the future.
...But the point is, most major classes of the earth’s organisms are primarily or
exclusively marine and have unique reproductive systems, sensory and defense
mechanisms that have adapted to extreme environments. Much can be learned
from them.
...While molecular technologies are being applied to the study of marine
organisms, it’s just scratched the surface. Further research holds huge promise
for new products and processes because marine biodiversity greatly exceeds
terrestrial biodiversity. It represents a relatively untapped source of new
materials, compounds and organisms which may overtake the use of terrestrial
organisms for biotechnology in the coming decades.
...The potential of this industry is promising, including special purpose chemicals
and pharmaceuticals. Marine organisms produce powerful adhesives, anti-cancer
agents and the most potent natural toxins known.
...Additional federal support of research in marine biotechnology and
aquaculture is likely to mean new fundamental knowledge and advanced
technologies for producing new pharmaceuticals, biomaterials and other
products.
Next: (cont.) Overview
...In its report, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommended more
federal dollars for ocean research, in part because of the growth of ocean
research dollars in other nations. It suggested doubling the federal investment in
ocean and coastal research. That in itself is bound to impact the universities.
...The other development that will impact South Mississippi is the growing
interest in the field of marine biotechnology. It is still hard to gauge just how big
an impact it will have on the future.
...But the point is, most major classes of the earth’s organisms are primarily or
exclusively marine and have unique reproductive systems, sensory and defense
mechanisms that have adapted to extreme environments. Much can be learned
from them.
...While molecular technologies are being applied to the study of marine
organisms, it’s just scratched the surface. Further research holds huge promise
for new products and processes because marine biodiversity greatly exceeds
terrestrial biodiversity. It represents a relatively untapped source of new
materials, compounds and organisms which may overtake the use of terrestrial
organisms for biotechnology in the coming decades.
...The potential of this industry is promising, including special purpose chemicals
and pharmaceuticals. Marine organisms produce powerful adhesives, anti-cancer
agents and the most potent natural toxins known.
...Additional federal support of research in marine biotechnology and
aquaculture is likely to mean new fundamental knowledge and advanced
technologies for producing new pharmaceuticals, biomaterials and other
products.
Next: (cont.) Overview
In this section:
The future Incentives Workforce |
| South Mississippi marine science |
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