How will USF pivot after Marine Science fire?

The University of South Florida St. Pete’s Marine Science Laboratory (MSL) was severely damaged by fire Saturday, along with a trove of irreplaceable student and government agency research. The origin of the blaze remains unknown.

In the aftermath, USF is scrambling to continue its courses, but with finals around the corner, how will the lost research affect student theses and graduation? According to Director of Strategic Communications at the College of Marine Science Dillon Furness, “We are making accommodations for students to defend their theses [regardless of research loss]. “

In the meantime, USF President Moez Limayem released a statement: “Our immediate focus is taking care of our people, and then on maintaining academic and research continuity. We are working to relocate any classes or exams scheduled to be held in the area. For researchers, students and staff who used the MSL facility, we are evaluating options for alternative spaces.”

There’s no confirmed plan for how students affected by the fire will recover or be compensated for lost work and research.

USF Communications and Marketing Director Matthew Cimitile told the Catalyst that it will be a couple more days before staff are cleared to get into the building, what remains of it, and until then the future of the students whose research was housed there is in limbo, as “leadership is tied up in response and recovery.”

The MSL building was originally part of a World War II-era Merchant Marine training base built in the early 1940s, making it over 80 years old.

Later incorporated into USF’s campus, it functioned as a research and teaching facility for the College of Marine Science, where scientists studied ocean chemistry, marine ecosystems, red tide, climate change and water quality, using specialized labs to analyze seawater, pollutants and marine life while supporting graduate education and environmental research.

Freezers full of lab samples and specimens were also housed within the facility, and since access is still barred, the state of those items remains unknown. Live animals are typically stored separately at the Knight Oceanographic Research Center and were unaffected.

“While our full assessment is ongoing, and will only be completed once it is safe to do so, initial information indicates the MSL building may be a total loss,” Limayem wrote. “Our recovery teams are working with the College of Marine Science to prioritize key research material and equipment for salvage assessment when the building is cleared.”

Besides student research, the MSL building also supported the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey.

The fire itself was contained to the MSL building, with no major damage reported to neighboring facilities.

The two alarm building fire broke out Saturday evening following reports of lightning strikes in the area, which is being considered as a potential cause, though authorities have provided no official answer.

Mayor Ken Welch took to social media on Sunday, writing in solidarity with USF President Limayem. “The City of St. Petersburg stands with our USF family,” Welch wrote. “We will work with our community to rebuild better than before.”

Senator Darryl Rouson, who has a building named after him on USF’s campus, told the Catalyst, “I have been communicating with legislative partners, and stand ready to support any efforts needed from the Legislature to assist in recovery and rebuilding.”

The fire adds to another recent tragedy, the double homicide of doctoral students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy, which left the campus community shocked. “This situation adds to what has already been a challenging time for our university community,” Limayem wrote.

“Classes and normal business operations have resumed on St. Pete campus, except for the MSL and other facilities on Peninsula Drive, including the Knight Oceanographic Research Center and the Plant Operations and Receiving facility.”