Visitors' Center: Visitors enjoy the exhibits, aquaria, and life-size models in VIMS Visitors' Center during Marine Science Day.
Scallop Eyes: From L: Madeline Allburn, Isabella Weiner, and Clare Allburn learn what it's like to see the world through the eyes of a scallop during Marine Science Day at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
Underwater Robot: Chris Petrone (far L) watches as visitors drive a mini-robotic submarine during Marine Science Day. Petrone is a Marine Education Specialist with the Sea Grant program at VIMS.
Touch Tank: Visitors examine a spider crab taken from the Visitors' Center touch tank.
Fish Tagging: Jon Lucy (L) explains fish tagging to two young visitors. Lucy is a Marine Recreation Specialist with the VA Sea Grant program at VIMS.
Bottom Dwellers: VIMS graduate student Treda Smith talks about weird and wonderful bottom dwellers during Marine Science Day
Fish Printing: Young visitors practice their fish and scallop printing in the Children's Pavilion.
Fish Prints: A selection of the fish and scallop prints created by visitors to Marine Science Day.
Seafood Cooking Demo: Kelly Turner, Chef Instructor at the Culinary Institute of Virginia (L), joins with Sea Grant Seafood Education Specialist Vicki Clark (2nd from L) to serve scallops during a Seafood Cooking Demonstration.
: VIMS grad student Matt Whalen (L) shows a visitor how to use a microscope to view the small shrimp-like crustaceans that inhabit local sea grass beds.
Hidden Pipefish: Visitors learn about camouflage by counting pipefish hidden within sea grass.
DNA: Wendi Ribeiro, a graduate student in the Marine and Aquaculture Molecular Genetics program at VIMS (L), shows young visitors how to prepare samples for DNA analysis.
Blue Crab: A young visitor examines a blue crab.
Blue Crabs: Visitors learn about blue crabs.
Aquarium Display: A visitor examines an aquarium display.
Zooplankton: Kate Ruck shows a zooplankton sample to a visitor. Ruck is an incoming graduate student.
TEM: VIMS professor Wolfgang Vogelbein (C) instructs Porter Doughty (L) and Michael Luck (R) in the use of the transmission electron microscope (TEM).
Green Screen: A pair of young visitors prepare for the Virtual Scientist "green screen" activity. Results of this “Scientist for a Few Seconds” activity will soon be available on the VIMS YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/vimsvideos).
Cake: Gummi worms and fish occupy the "seafloor" as part of a hands-on activity in which visitors take "sediment cores" from a chocolate layer cake.
Sediment Cores: Visitors take "sediment cores" from a chocolate layer cake.
: The "seafloor" following sediment coring. Unlike real sediment cores, these cores were good to eat.
Acrobat: Graduate student Daniel Maxey (R) explains how VIMS scientists use the Acrobat sensor to measure dissolved oxygen in Chesapeake Bay.
Fish Collection: Graduate student Dan Dutton (C) describes a specimen from the VIMS Fish Collection.
Seine Net: Visitors check their seine net for marine life.
Algae: A young visitor gets a hands-on feel for green algae.
Shark: Logan Miesowitz of Hayes becomes a shark.
Mapping: VIMS scientist Tami Rudnicky explains the intricacies of mapping to 3rd-grader Jasmine Tomson of Gloucester.
Seine Net: Visitors draw their seine net from the York River.
Parade Prep: Students from Yorktown Elementary prepare to march in the Parade of Marine Life.
SCUBA Divers: Ben Malmquist (L) and Caleb Richardson (R) dressed as SCUBA divers for the Parade of Marine Life.
: Students from Yorktown Elementary march in the Parade of Marine Life.
Scallop and Anglerfish: Hannah Mclean (L) and Sarah McGuire of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve program at VIMS show off their scallop and angler fish costumes following the Parade of Marine Life.
Deep-sea Fish: VIMS graduate student CJ Sweetman shows a deep-sea fish to a visitor.
Best of Show: Monet Wilson, a 6th grader at Peasley Middle School in Gloucester, won Best of Parade for her seahorse costume in the Parade of Marine Life during Marine Science Day at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science on May 30.
Oyster Hatchery: Researcher Karen Hudson (R) explains the workings of the VIMS Oyster Hatchery. Hudson is with the Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center at VIMS.
Scallops: Hannah McLean (R) talks about scallops. McClean is with the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve program at VIMS.
Waiting for Waders: Scott Lerberg (foreground) helps visitors don their waders before seining. Lerberg is Stewardship Coordinator with the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve program at VIMS.
Dip Net: A young visitor uses a dip net to search for marine life in the York River.
Seining: Visitors seine for marine life in the York River.
Tire Pressure: Sandi Buchheister of Hayes (L) looks on as VIMS professor Rebecca Dickhut (R) checks her recommended tire pressure.
Marine Science Day
VIMS' annual open house is a fun-filled event for the whole family. Join us in Gloucester Point for exhibits, children's activities, seining on the York River, lab tours, seafood cooking demonstrations, mini-lectures, and much more. All activities are free, as is parking. The event proceeds rain or shine.
Marine Science Day 2013 will take place on Saturday, May 18th. Check back for further details as the event nears!
VIMS in the Bay and Around the World
Ocean research takes VIMS scientists from Poquoson to the Poles. Learn about efforts by VIMS researchers in Chesapeake Bay to manage blue crabs, restore oysters, survey fish populations, unravel biodiversity, monitor water quality, find and remove "ghost" crab pots, reduce the accidental capture of diamondback terrapins, and decipher the Bay's environmental history through sediment cores. Also learn about our international work in Antarctica and the deep sea. These exhibits are located in Watermen's Hall and Chesapeake Bay Hall and are open continuously from 10 am - 3 pm.
Open Labs
Tour working laboratories to learn about the latest tools and techniques of marine research. Scientists lead the tours and will explain their current research.
Activities & Tours
Learn and have fun with sand-based crafts and other activities in our Children's Pavilion. Tour our Teaching Marsh, Shellfish Hatchery, and Maritime Forest. Collect, observe, and better understand estuarine organisms from the York River. Be a "Scientist for a Second" in our photo booth, and use sonar to decode a secret message in our "Messages in the Sand" booth.
By the Clock
In addition to our day-long activities, we offer a series of events that begin at specific times. These events include a pair of 10-minute mini-lectures, seafood cooking demonstrations, and more. See your program for details.
Food and Gifts
Marine Science Day T-shirts and other clothing and memorabilia will be for sale in the VIMS Gift Shop. T-shirts will also be available in the Welcome Booth. Hot sandwiches, snacks, and drinks will be available near the Children's Pavilion.
Parade of Marine Life
Join us along Greate Road and in the Watermen's Hall Circle as children and adults march in our annual Parade. View wonderful creatures created and worn by individuals and groups from all around Tidewater.
VIMS Video
Relive the excitement and fun with this video of Marine Science Day at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. More...
