The research, instruction, and extension roles of MSI are embodied in its mandate:

1. To generate basic information necessary for optimal and sustained utilization, management, and conservation of the marine environment and its resources.
2. To provide graduate-level training and extension services to develop human resource requirements in the marine sciences.
3. To develop appropriate and environmentally sound marine-based technologies for industrial and economic development.

Academic Programs

MSI grants MSc and PhD degrees in Marine Science with the following specializations: marine biology, marine physical science, and marine biotechnology. With the expansion of the Institute’s capabilities, other fields of specialization in the marine sciences will eventually be offered.

Research Programs

Research is the fundamental function of MSI. The Institute’s research programs, some of which are listed below, are geared towards generating basic and applied information for optimal and sustained use and conservation of the country’s marine environment and its resources.

1. biology of red tide/harmful phytoplankton
2. plankton ecology
3. coral reef, seagrass and mangrove ecosystems
4. invertebrate biology and mariculture
5. seaweed biology, molecular genetics, taxonomy, and culture
6. nearshore and offshore oceanographic processes
7. biochemical studies on conotoxins
8. natural products of marine organisms (esp. seaweeds and invertebrates)
9. population genetics and selective breeding of marine organisms
10. integrated coastal management and community-based coastal resource management

Extension Services

With its technical and personnel resources, MSI conducts training courses. Topics include resource survey and monitoring techniques, coastal zone management, mariculture, and analytical techniques. Also part of its extension work is the technical services concerning marine environment protection and management offered to public or private agencies.

Resources

The MSI building in UP Diliman houses the research laboratories, classrooms, library, herbarium, and other facilities. Within the campus are situated the seaweed processing pilot plant and laboratories for marine colloids.

An off-campus marine laboratory of the MSI, called the Bolinao Marine Laboratory, has facilities for mariculture, field sampling, and diving. It houses resident and transient researchers or trainees.

The Institute’s library has a vast and growing collection of more than 1,600 book titles, 180 journal titles (29 are current subscriptions), and over 30,000 reprints of scientific articles.

UP MSI was originally established as the Marine Sciences Center in 1974. MSC served as the University’s coordinating base for marine research. In 1985, MSC became an Institute of the College of Science and started offering graduate programs.

In 1994, a Presidential Proclamation has declared the Marine Science Institute as the National Center of Excellence in the Marine Sciences.

Contact details:
Marine Science Institute
University of the Philippines – Diliman
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
URL:http://www.msi.upd.edu.ph
e-mail: admin@upmsi.ph
Tel. No.: (632) 922-3959