Dive into Marine Science Research
The Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) is a marine station with an international reputation for providing high quality marine research and teaching. It's been at the forefront of marine biology for more than 70 years.
IMS is located within metres of the sea on the shore of Langstone Harbour. It provides access to the varied marine ecosystems of the Solent European Marine Site, which are rich in bio-fouling organisms.
Students and researchers use our facilities to monitor and test marine environments and seawater. This includes looking at how humans impact marine ecosystems and how materials react to different marine environments.
The research conducted at IMS is multidisciplinary. Strong research links exist between the School of the Environment and Life Sciences, the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Environmental Network (UPEN) and the wider research community.
External organisations that have used our facilities include QinetiQ, the Building Research Establishment (Bre), Thales, Balmoral Offshore Engineering, and the Research Council of Norway.
Explore the Institute of Marine Sciences
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Access our our purpose-built 318m2 aquatic centreÂ
Our aquatic centre houses an aquarium and seawater system. The seawater is sourced directly from Langstone Harbour, which is processed via a settlement system with glass media filtration, and serves two independent lines delivered to the aquatic centre.
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Utilise our shallow water research and testing platform
This is a unique facility available for short and long-term marine monitoring and submersion trials. Regular samples can be collected from panels and other structures deployed on the platform. Instruments or panels may be immersed at any level from the surface to the sea bed, and equipment can be attached to the platform above the water.
The platform can also be used for marine remote sensing equipment and tidal turbine trials.
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Explore the Solent with RV Calypso and RV Noctiluca
The RV Calypso is a 5.4m high-speed shallow draft dory available for inshore and intertidal work within the Solent European Marine Site (SEMS) and surrounding area.
The RV Noctiluca has the capability to sample offshore within the Solent and beyond, and complements the current inshore RV Calypso.
The 12.5m Noctiluca can carry up to 12 students plus 2 crew.
Read lessEquipment and amenities
- Twin switching pumps on a pontoon supply seawater to our compound at a rate of 10 L/s
- Integrated heater/chiller system with a range of 10°C–25°C enabling temperature controlled experiments and ambient seawater experiments
- Flow-through and re-circulating seawater systems
- A large wet lab fitted with a flexible plumbing system and a large range of different volume tanks
- Outdoor aquarium tanks (30–5000L), allowing several hundred tanks to be run with either ambient or temperature-controlled sea-water for experimental research or holding tanks
- Quarantine rooms for non-native species
- Living specimen preparation rooms
- Five experimental aquarium rooms with independent temperature and light control
- Staff changing room
- Molecular and general laboratories
- A flat roof with access for exposure, observation and monitoring trials
- Lecture theatre with 120 seats
- Teaching laboratory with 72 work stations, each equipped with compound and dissection microscopes
- Supporting preparation room for technical staff
- Seawater on tap
- A large research platform permanently moored in the centre of Langstone harbour
- A secured area with an access hatch down into the harbour water column
- 2 research vessels allowing inshore and intertidal work within the Solent European Marine Site (SEMS) and surrounding area, and offshore sampling
Contact us
The IMS offers excellent facilities for commercial use, visiting researchers, alongside marine consultancy and extensive expertise. Specialisations include marine efficacy testing, biofilm growth, immersion and exposure testing of building materials, treated wood analyses, and marine micro-plastics research. We cater to marine, maritime, construction, renewable energy, engineering, and utility sectors. Our aquatic centre facilities are also available for hire, and we provide a range of research services from wood treatment to exposure testing of new building materials.
To contact us about using our facilities or services, please contact us:
Related facilities
Biophysical laboratories
Use professional-standard equipment to explore how the structures and functions of molecules change under different conditions.
Physical Geography and Meteorology Laboratories
Use the latest physical and meteorological equipment in our labs, including a rainfall simulator and automatic weather stations.
GIS and Remote Sensing Laboratory
Discover more about the planet's physical structures and scientific processes, such as glaciers and coastal flooding, using drone data, aerial and satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems.
Where to find us
Institute of Marine Sciences
Building C (Aquatic Centre),
Ferry Road,
Southsea,
Portsmouth,
Hampshire,
PO4 9LY