Understanding a problem is often the first step toward solving it. Because the ecology of the Inland Bays is so complex, scientific research is a critical element in the Center's efforts to improve water quality.

The interactions that affect the bays are many - about 60,000 human beings share the waters and watershed with thousands of species of mammals, birds, fishes, amphibians and invertebrates, and their lives intersect in ways large and small.

Instead of simply theoretical research, the Center for the Inland Bays is dedicated to practical research that can be used to solve problems in the real world.

In recent years, the Center's research mission has expanded to include the study of such varied topics as water chemistry, pollution indicators, invasive species and protozoan diseases that affect shellfish.

The Center's successful aquaculture demonstration project, in which oysters were grown in submerged cages, has led to a larger experiment to see if oysters can thrive on an artificial reef. These tests are conducted at the Center's James Farm Ecological Preserve on Indian River Bay.

In addition to its own research, the Center each year awards from $80,000 to $100,000 to support research and demonstration projects by a variety of institutions and agencies.