CMWS Mission & Focus Statement

The Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies was established by the Horry County Higher Education Commission to facilitate basic and applied research within the College of Natural and Applied Science at Coastal Carolina University. Since the late 1980’s, the Center has expanded its pursuits through interaction with many federal and state agencies, in addition to collaborations with other universities. Within the Center, many marine science faculty and staff members work together, along with Coastal Carolina University students, to better understand local watershed health, water quality and the geologic characteristics of South Carolina’s beaches and shoreline. While emphasis is often placed on the local environment, Center scientists and Coastal Carolina University students have traveled extensively in order to collect data that leads to a better understanding of issues as broad as sea level rise and climate change.