Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology

The Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology was initially started as a Centre of Ocean and Island Studies in the year 2000, and later it was upgraded to a Department in 2004 with a major funding from UGC. This Department has its own campus, located at Port Blair, the picturesque capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Department has sophisticated laboratory facilities equipped with latest equipments for field investigations in ocean related sciences. These facilities are to impart education and training to the students of Marine Biology and Coastal Disaster Management and for carrying out R & D activities in and around islands and other parts of India. The program is primarily designed to create trained manpower in Marine Biology and Disaster Management. The Department marine systems and its application for sustainable management, creating a database on the oceanographic parameters including, physical, chemical, biological and geological aspects. In addition, it is also providing inputs to formulate an effective disaster management plan for coastal areas. The Department offers a two year masters degree and Ph.D. programmes in two disciplines: Marine Biology and Coastal Disaster Management. The Department's strategic location at Port Blair provides a unique opportunity for the students to get extensive exposure to various marine environments comprising of mangrove, island and coral ecosystems. The students enrolled for the masters degree programmes get a student fellowship of Rs. 1000 per month. The selection of the candidates is based on the rank obtained in the all India entrance examination conducted at different centres in India.