On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster released some 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico over 87 days, profoundly impacting coastal ecosystems from nearshore sands to deep benthic habitats. Just 11 days later, researchers at USM’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory were in the field collecting water and sediment samples, deploying “Shoreline Sentinels,” and partnering with state agencies and local fishing communities through the COAST citizen‑science program. In the years since, sustained initiatives under the RESTORE Act and major research consortia like GoMRI have generated more than 75 peer‑reviewed studies on oil impacts, hypoxia, and microbial responses. Read the full retrospective on coastal health and restoration efforts here.