VI-EPSCoR

Find us this weekend at AgriFest 2026!

Exhibit 1: St. Croix Environmental Association (Plant ID and seedling giveaway)

Exhibit 2: GRROE USVI Mangroves (Mangrove research and restoration)

Exhibit 3: VI Reef Response (Coral research and restoration)

Exhibit 4: VI Center for Autonomous Research (Underwater drone research)

Exhibit 5: Caribbean Fisheries Management Council (VI/PR fisheries education)

Exhibit 6: Face Painting and Community Mural (Face painting and paint by number coral reef mural)

Exhibit 7: VI Marine Advisory Service (Water quality education, marine debris)

Exhibit 8: Wildlife Walk (Wildlife exhibits, sensory games)

Exhibit 9: Kid's Corner (Arts & crafts, activity books for kids of all ages)

Exhibit 10: Process Technology (Introduction to Virtual Reality)

Exhibit 11: Virtual Reality Adventure (Explore land and sea with VR)

Come visit VI-EPSCoR at the 2026 St. Croix AGRIFEST! Join us and partners like the St. Croix Environmental Association, UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (and many more!) as we show you the VI's natural resources and local research like never before! Prepare to meet environmental scientists, discover VI flora and fauna, explore the world through Virtual Reality and find out how you can become an environmental steward. There will also be face painting, scavenger hunts, immersive science demonstrations, and activities for all ages.

You can find us each day of the fair (February 14th-16th from 10am-4:30pm) next to the St. Croix Children's Museum.

Excited to see you there!

The Virgin Islands Children's Museum UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies St. Croix Environmental Association

Big things are happening!

The Virgin Islands Center for Autonomous Research (VICAR) is assembling a fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles, coding 3D mapping tools, and engineering AI-powered analysis to survey our reefs with more detail, accuracy, and speed than ever before.

“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. 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.” - Dr. Lauren Olinger, Co Lead

UVI cmes has been awarded funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation to launch the Virgin Islands Center for Autonomous Research (VICAR) — a groundbreaking hub where robotics, AI, and marine science come together.

Over the next few years, VICAR WILL be building innovative tools to study coral reefs, mangroves, and our open ocean like never before. This is a transformative moment for marine research in the USVI.

“VICAR is a unique opportunity for advancement of science and commerce in the US Virgin Islands. It is a perfect time to leverage emerging technologies to speed the scale and pace of marine research and answer some of our most pressing questions, while providing educational and training opportunities that will create a modern, island-strong workforce.” - Dr. Tyler Smith, Project Lead

Join us as we celebrate Dr. Richard “Rick” Nemeth, whose vision and dedication shaped marine science in the Virgin Islands. Rick was the driving force behind establishing the USVI as an U.S. National Science Foundation EPSCoR jurisdiction in 2004 — a turning point that allowed UVI’s Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES) to grow from a small team into the world-class research institution it is today.

He built CMES from the ground up, trained and mentored dozens of students, and advanced our understanding of Caribbean fish ecology and fisheries management. True to Rick’s style, he rarely highlighted his own role, but those of us who worked alongside him know: we wouldn’t be here without him. Rick’s impact will be felt for generations.

Read more about his legacy in our Fall 2025 newsletter link in bio.

And read about his Nassau grouper research here: 👉 https://www.viepscor.org/news/usvi-nassau-grouper-recovery-and-treachery.

Join us as we celebrate Dr. Richard “Rick” Nemeth, whose vision and dedication shaped marine science in the Virgin Islands. Rick was the driving force behind establishing the USVI as an U.S. National Science Foundation EPSCoR jurisdiction in 2004 — a turning point that allowed UVI’s Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES) to grow from a small team into the world-class research institution it is today.

He built CMES from the ground up, trained and mentored dozens of students, and advanced our understanding of Caribbean fish ecology and fisheries management. True to Rick’s style, he rarely highlighted his own role, but those of us who worked alongside him know: we wouldn’t be here without him. Rick’s impact will be felt for generations.

Read more about his legacy in our Fall 2025 newsletter: 👉 https://www.viepscor.org/newsletters

And read about his Nassau grouper research here: 👉 https://www.viepscor.org/news/usvi-nassau-grouper-recovery-and-treachery

The Fall 2025 VI-EPSCoR Newsletter is here! As the Ridge to Reef project enters its final year, we reflect on five years of research, education, and community engagement that continue to strengthen resilience in the Virgin Islands.
Read it online today: https://indd.adobe.com/view/2ae634a4-6227-48eb-ae42-33337488b220

Coral reefs just got a powerful ally: machine learning.

A new study co-led by Dr. Marilyn Brandt, Research Professor at UVI, and her collaborators at the University of Texas Arlington have identified biomarkers that can distinguish between two devastating coral diseases—stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) and white plague (WP). These diseases often look the same in the field, but gene analysis revealed 463 biomarkers that highlight their unique immune responses. These biomarkers can be used to create a diagnostic tool.

Using this data, the team built a machine learning model with >90% accuracy, offering a game-changing way to quickly detect and respond to outbreaks. For the U.S. Virgin Islands, where reefs are central to our culture, economy, and coastal protection, this breakthrough means scientists and managers will be better equipped to safeguard our reefs and the communities that depend on them. Read it here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42452-025-07382-7

The Ridge to Reef STEAM camp, a dynamic new program, has successfully completed its inaugural year on St. Croix! 🔗 https://presidentscorner.uvi.edu/ridge-to-reef-steam-camp-program-marks-its-first-year-on-st-croix/

Can you tell how excited intern Viana Biscoe is with the new Hydrus ROV? Viana is interning with Dr. Lauren Olinger at the UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies learning all about remotely operated submersibles. Science sure looks like fun with “toys” like these!