Look Inside Coastal Geology and Tour The Research Vessel Virginia

Saturday, May 30, 2026 | 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Intercontinental Washington, D.C. - The Wharf, Haven 801 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Sponsored by W&M Batten School & VIMS

Learn what’s beneath the surface of our beaches, marshes and barrier islands with Batten School & VIMS faculty from the Coastal Geology Lab. With 40% of the world’s population living in coastal communities, understanding how the environment responds to sea-level rise, storms, warming temperatures, and sediment movement is one of the greatest needs of our time. Explore the tools and methods Professor Christopher Hein and his lab utilize to better understand the past, present, and future of our coastlines.

Following the discussion, attendees will walk to the Capital Yacht Club at The Wharf for a tour of the Batten School & VIMS’ flagship research vessel, the Virginia, with Senior Research Vessel Captain John Olney Jr. The RV/VA is the most modern, capable research vessel in its size class anywhere in the U.S. The 93-foot vessel supports Batten School & VIMS scientists in their work monitoring and studying the Chesapeake Bay and its marine life and expands the institute’s research footprint into the open waters of the coastal Atlantic from Maine to Florida.

Price: $10