A new Center of Excellence in Environmental Forecasting has been established at the College of William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Science & Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The center will turn long-term datasets, environmental sensors and advanced computer modeling into user-friendly forecasting tools that enhance coastal resilience and inform daily decision-making across Virginia and beyond, a release said. On Friday, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross) visited the Gloucester Point campus to present Batten School Dean and VIMS Director Derek Aday with a ceremonial check for $1.6 million, representing federal funds that have been secured in support of the center. CEEF received strong bipartisan support from federal legislators and has also received backing from state representatives. Virginia has allocated more than $800,000 for the center. A significant portion of CEEF funding will support high-performance computing resources at William & Mary. These in...