Biological Sciences
This building has enhanced the current teaching facilities with a 70-seat teaching laboratory and 120-seat lecture theatre. The autumn of 2010 has marked the next exciting part of the development of IMS at the University of Portsmouth.
As well as the addition of the new teaching facilities, there are numerous research facilities at the IMS. These include two Home Office approved laboratories for studying fish biology together with a suite of general research laboratories.
Molecular Laboratory
There are four temperature and photoperiod controlled growth rooms, an image analysis suite, quarantine room, histology laboratory, wet laboratory, molecular laboratory and ecotoxicology facility. A purpose built seawater system pumps water from Langstone Harbour to the site.
Seawater Pumping System
A large experimental raft is permanently moored in the centre of the harbour and provides a facility for long-term exposure trials that is sheltered from rough seas but is permanently exposed to the seawater within the centre of the harbour.
Students and Staff at IMS have access to a six metre high-speed shallow draft launch, RV Calypso, for inshore work within the harbour network and a suite of sampling systems including dredges, grabs and nets. There is also a dingy for shallow beach sampling. All are operated by a certificated boatman and are licensed to carry external researchers and guests.
Space on the Experimental Raft can be hired for any field trials on paint or other antifouling systems. Current and recent companies and organisations include;
- Ekomarine AB: Swedish anti-fouling paint manufacturer. Contracted to run seawater immersion trials for a number of anti-fouling paint samples.
- Balmoral Comtec Ltd: Scottish offshore engineering company. Contracted for immersion trials and fouling assessments for anti-fouling polymer samples.
- Trelleborg AB: Global engineering group with expertise in advanced polymer manufacture. Contracted for immersion trials on a number of product samples with application in the offshore oil industry.
- QinetiQ Group Plc: Research and development for global aerospace, security and defence markets. Contracted to maintain immersion trials for anti-fouling materials and also for atmospheric corrosion trials.
- Southampton University: Individual collaboration investigating presence of heavy metals in mussel populations.
- International Yacht Paint: Global manufacturers of antifouling and boat paint. Used the facilities to carry out immersion trials on products in development.
- TRADA Technology Ltd: is an internationally recognised centre of excellence on the specification and use of timber and wood products. Contracted for trials on wood-boring organisms.
Contact for this facility is Adam Bonner
The Institute of Marine Sciences laboratories are based within the School of Biological Sciences and, therefore, also have access to the whole range of facilities of the School and also the University.