About

The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) is a world-class centre of excellence for research and education at the University of Tasmania.

Our research is innovative, relevant, and globally distinctive. Our education delivers first-class programs resulting in highly trained scientists and researchers serving the needs of academic institutions, industry, government and the community.

IMAS has three core research programs in Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ecology and Biodiversity, and Oceans and Cryosphere. These are linked by the cross-disciplinary themes of Climate change, Ocean-Earth systems and Oceans and Antarctic governance.

Based on IMAS's activities, in the 2017 CWUR world university rankings by subject the University of Tasmania was ranked fourth in the world for Marine and Freshwater Biology, and seventh in the world for both Fisheries and Oceanography.

In the QS Rankings by Subject for 2017 the University of Tasmania was ranked in the top 50 for Earth and Marine Sciences, which covers the bulk of IMAS’s research and teaching activities.

Our Vision

To be an internationally recognised centre of excellence for marine and Antarctic research and education, developing environmental understanding, and facilitating sustainable development for the benefit of Australia and the world.

Our Mission

To improve understanding of temperate marine, Southern Ocean and Antarctic environments, their resources, and their roles in the global climate system through research, education and outreach.

To deliver our vision and mission, IMAS must become and internationally recognised, globally distinctive research and educational institute, offering excellence in basic, mission-oriented, and applied research. This research will cut across traditional scientific and social scientific boundaries, serving stakeholders and users across government, industry, and academic institutions. It will deliver new outcomes and knowledge relevant to marine and Antarctic environments and their resources, in particular, fisheries and aquaculture.

IMAS is characterised by research and education programs that:

  • Are innovative, ground-breaking, relevant, and outcome-oriented, generating income and investment
  • Contribute to temperate marine, Southern Ocean, and Antarctic studies
  • Contribute to sustainable development and marine resource management
  • Contribute to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development and management in Tasmania, the rest of Australia, and the Southern Ocean
  • Contribute to understanding the Antarctic marine environment and cryosphere.
  • Contribute to informed marine and Antarctic policy development
  • Entail broad-ranging and relevant collaborations and networking
  • Deliver trained researchers, serving the needs of academic institutions, industry, and government
  • Involve knowledge transfer and enterprise
  • Are responsive to stakeholder needs and, therefore,
  • Enhance the reputation of the University of Tasmania, the State of Tasmania, and Australia.
Authorised by the Executive Director, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
1 October, 2019