The University of the Virgin Islands announced it has received a "notice of award" from the U.S. National Science Foundation for a $7 million grant to launch the Virgin Islands Center for Autonomous Research, an initiative aimed at advancing marine research and expanding STEM opportunities across the territory.
According to a UVI statement released Tuesday, funding will be reimbursed to the university over five years through the foundation's EPSCoR ERISE program, meaning the university will initially cover the project and later be reimbursed by the NSF.
According to the statement, the center will use artificial intelligence and robotics to strengthen the local Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics workforce, and position the university as a leader in marine and maritime innovation.
UVI President Safiya George said the award reflects the university's growing role in advancing science and innovation, not just in the territory, but the wider region.
"This visionary award from the National Science Foundation is a powerful endorsement of the University of the Virgin Islands' leadership in marine science and innovation," George said. "The establishment of the Virgin Islands Center for Autonomous Research represents a bold step forward in our commitment to advancing research, protecting our fragile ecosystems, and preparing a new generation of scientists and engineers in the Virgin Islands and across the Caribbean."
She added, "We are proud to be at the forefront of this transformative initiative that will deliver lasting scientific, educational, and economic benefits to our region."
Led by principal investigator, Tyler Smith, and Lauren Olinger, director of the planned research center, the project will combine underwater robotics, 3D imaging and AI to monitor coral reefs and marine life more efficiently. The research builds on decades of work focused on reef health and recovery, following widespread coral decline since 2005 caused by bleaching, hurricanes and disease.
"UVI has spent decades building its marine research infrastructure, with the dream of making the U.S. Virgin Islands a global leader in the study of tropical marine systems," Smith said. "This NSF award and the creation of VICAR is the next critical step in making this a reality."
He noted that the education and workforce development components "also ensure that the impacts will radiate outward in the community and create a lasting legacy, with intellectual and economic benefits for years to come."
UVI researchers Marilyn Brandt, Kristin Grimes and Doug Wilson will lead separate areas of research within the research center. Brandt will focus on reef recovery, Grimes will expand automation to mangrove monitoring and Wilson will advance the Ocean Glider Lab for open-ocean research, according to the statement.
The program will also include a strong education and training component for students outside the university. More than 3,000 middle and high school students are expected to participate in hands-on robotics and AI activities.
For UVI students, 96 undergraduates will gain research experience in marine technology through semester-long programs and internships, while 20 graduate students in the master of marine and environmental science program will receive full tuition, stipends and travel support for conferences.
The research center will also host biennial training workshops and Caribbean summits to expand regional expertise in marine technology. Those efforts will be led by Verleen McSween and Grimes, UVI said.
"It's gratifying to know that the NSF values our vision and are helping us bring it to life. This award will be transformative for the territory," Olinger said. "With this support we can build innovative tools to better protect and understand our ecosystems, while broadening participation in technology and geosciences. It's a win for us all."