ABOUT THE VIRGINIA COASTAL POLICY CENTER
WILLIAM & MARY LAW SCHOOL
INTEGRATING SCIENCE WITH LEGAL POLICY ANALYSIS
The Virginia Coastal Policy Center (VCPC) at William & Mary Law School provides science-based legal and policy analysis of ecological issues affecting the state’s coastal resources, providing education and advice to a host of Virginia’s decision-makers, from government officials and legal scholars to non-profit and business leaders.
With two nationally prominent science partners – the William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science, one of the largest marine research and education centers in the United States, and Virginia Sea Grant, a nationally recognized broker of scientific information – VCPC works with scientists, local and state political figures, community leaders, the military, and others to integrate the latest science with legal and policy analysis to solve coastal resource management issues. VCPC activities are inherently interdisciplinary, drawing on scientific, economic, public policy, sociological, and other expertise from within the university and across the country. With access to internationally recognized scientists at VIMS, to Sea Grant’s national network of legal and science scholars, and to elected and appointed officials across the nation, VCPC engages in a host of information exchanges and collaborative partnerships.
ABOUT VIRGINIA SEA GRANT
TOGETHER FOR VIRGINIA
Virginia Sea Grant is a seven-university, federal-state partnership whose Charter calls for us to enable integration, collaboration, and leveraging of our collective coastal and marine capacity to address pressing societal problems in Virginia, the region and nation. Our federal funding comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with matching funds from the Commonwealth, including the dues that each partner institution pays.
As a broker of scientific information, VASG works with resource managers, businesses, communities, and other stakeholders to provide and apply the best science available.
Our mission combines scientific research, education, and public outreach. Guided by our strategic plan, we work to develop sound ideas and practices that enhance the Bay’s ecology as well as the communities, businesses and jobs that depend on it.
Working with a variety of partners, we act as an “honest broker” to spread science-based, useful, unbiased solutions to a wide audience.
