Ideally situated in the United States Virgin Islands, the Center for Marine & Environmental Studies (CMES) was established in 1999 with the mission to offer students and researchers a dynamic atmosphere to study tropical marine and environmental issues and increase awareness about marine topics in the VI.  Located within the University of the Virgin Islands, CMES is a research and outreach arm of UVI's Marine Science Program and is comprised of the MacLean Marine Science Center (MMSC), the Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS)  and the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS). CMES scientists, staff, students and collaborators are involved with a wide variety of exciting research projects, marine science education programs and environmental outreach activities.