CMAST - Center for Marine Sciences and Technologies

The principal mission of the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) is to discover innovative solutions to questions and problems in marine systems and provide effective communication of these discoveries. By promoting multidisciplinary studies among research scientists, educators and extension specialists from the participating NC State University colleges, enhancing interaction with other educational institutions and agencies concerned with marine sciences and coastal natural resources, CMAST provides a focal point for citizen contact with NC State University’s marine science and extension faculty.

This 51,000 sq. ft. facility, which opened in August 2000, is a unique educational partnership between state universities and the community college system. Located on the Carteret Community College campus, CMAST is within short walking distance of the UNC Institute of Marine Science and the NC Division of Marine Fisheries headquarters, and is within five miles of the Duke University Marine Laboratory, the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration/ National Ocean Service Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, the NC Maritime Museum and the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. By virtue of its location, CMAST is a nexus for partnerships with federal, state, county and private institutions with research and education capabilities centered in Morehead City, North Carolina and the surrounding area.

The CMAST facility is a resource not only for NCSU faculty and students, but other scientists with interest in conducting research and training programs within North Carolina. Some unique aspects of CMAST are: 1) the multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research base, including various regional research groups (UNC-IMS, Carteret Community College, NC Division of Marine Fisheries, National Ocean Service, Duke University Marine Laboratory), 2) integrated research and outreach, fostered by the co-location of Carteret CC faculty, NC Sea Grant marine extension specialists, NC Cooperative Extension field faculty, and NCSU faculty in the CMAST facility.

the 35 marine science faculty from 17 departments at NC State University that are affiliated with CMAST, and 3) the unique coastal and near-ocean environment – the Croatan-Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System - the largest lagoonal-type estuary and the second largest estuary in the U.S.