Sally Palmer is the Communications Coordinator for The University of Texas Marine Science Institute. She received a bachelor of science in marine biology from the University of Rhode Island and earned a masters degree in marine science from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001. Prior to her position handling communications, Sally served as the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve Manager. She also has research experience with benthic ecology, hypoxia, and ecosystem dynamics. Since 2006, Sally has help secure over $16 million in funding for administration, research and construction of educational facilities.
We have several free educational programs this Winter (2023).
Port Aransas
Patton Center, 855 East Cotter Ave.
Our Public Lecture Series is back at UTMSI in our newly renovated Patton Center - Thursdays from Jan 12 - Feb 23rd. Doors open...
In a recently released journal article published in Nature Communications, the Baker Lab discovered five new bacterial phyla from the deep sea. The team decided to name these phyla after female scientists that have made substantial contributions to deep sea research....
Happy Holidays! The week of December 18th, the Patton Center in Port A and the Bay Education Center in Rockport will be open Dec 20-22 from 10 am - 4 pm. Both centers will be closed for the winter break, Dec...
The power of metagenomics strikes again. Marine microbiologists discovered five new bacteria phyla (four never described and one poorly described) from the ocean floor that contain an unusually large number of novel protein families. An international group of researchers led by...
Last night, Captain Frank Ernst was honored and received the Coastal Steward Professional award at the 2022 Coastal Bend Bays Foundation Conservation and Stewardship Environmental Awards banquet.
Frank Ernst has been with the University as the small boat captain for 20...
Tenured Faculty Position in Chemical Ecology or Toxicology – The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a tenured faculty position in the Department of Marine Science at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor from candidates with research...
First in-situ measurements of microplastic fluxes help answer the “missing plastic” question
150 million tons of plastic are polluting the ocean today – and because of its slow decay, the amount keeps growing. Current model calculations indicate that only about one...
In the oceans lurks a stubborn pool of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) that no one had a clue how it formed – until now. A recent study in the Geophysical Research Letters provides the first discovery of how and why this...
The newly renovated Patton Center for Marine Science Education is open to the public starting October 18, 2022. The Center features eight large aquaria and engaging interactive displays, that will provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn about the...
As the school year begins, The University of Texas Marine Science Institute welcomes a new Associate Professor, Dr. Mark Lever.
Dr. Lever uses highly-sophisticated instruments and techniques to understand the role of microorganisms in the global carbon cycle. His research has...
UTMSI was happy to host and bring back the 14th annual Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting (TBEM) to its campus and the newly renovated Patton Center for Marine Science Education. After Hurricane Harvey damaged the visitor center, the meeting was held...
The University of Texas Marine Science Institute hosted a ribbon-cutting event on Saturday, Aug. 14, for the sponsors and donors who supported its newly renovated visitor center, now renamed the Patton Center for Marine Science Education, to commemorate contributions by Bobby...
It's been five years to the day that Hurricane Harvey struck the Texas coast. While a significant number of repairs to the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) facilities and buildings have been completed, reconstruction from Hurricane Harvey is 85%...
In July of 2018, the Port of Corpus Christi announced they were seeking a permit for a desalinization plant proposed for construction on Harbor Island in Port Aransas, Texas that would allow an average daily output flow of up to 95,600,000...
Over the course of the academic year, 8th graders from Brundrett Middle School have been completing environmental sampling in Port Aransas, TX. With this data, they have been investigating research questions such as "What local area has the most nutrients; marsh or beach?" or "How does...
As the school year comes to a close we had the pleasure of hosting all of Brundrett Middle School students from Port Aransas in a Water Awareness Day. The event featured eight stations each with a special learning point about the...
A “Sounds of the Estuary” workshop was hosted by the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute last week on May 12th. The workshop featured presentations on soundscaping and bioacoustics research with a demonstration of field...
We're pleased to release the first quarter newsletter for 2022, the 28th issue. Click on the image below to read more about our discoveries, education programs, facility improvements, and upcoming events.
Click here to download a PDF copy.
City dwellers have many opportunities to explore their natural surroundings with the annual City Nature Challenge (CNC). The Challenge is a competition to see who can submit the most observations about nature. Local groups are offering several programs on land and...
The University of Texas Marine Science Institute is pleased to announce the start and groundbreaking for our student housing project—the first since 1970. We want to thank Representative Todd Hunter, The University of Texas at Austin and the UT Board of...