Originating in the late 1970s under the then University of Port Elizabeth, the Department of Oceanography was one of South Africa’s early academic centres in this field. During its early decades, it offered a full suite of qualifications, from undergraduate to doctoral level. However, due to shifts in institutional priorities and staffing constraints, the department was gradually phased out by 2000, with its remaining programmes later absorbed into the Department of GeoSciences.

In 2019, the Faculty of Science undertook a strategic reorganisation aligned with institutional goals outlined in Vision 2020 and Vision 2030. These frameworks emphasised the university’s focus on Coastal and Ocean Sciences, creating an opportunity to formally reconstitute the department with an expanded scope. The renamed Department of Atmospheric and Oceanographic Sciences (DAOS) now integrates two interrelated scientific disciplines. Atmospheric science addresses the dynamics and composition of the Earth’s atmosphere, drawing on meteorology, climatology, and atmospheric physics and chemistry. Oceanographic science, by contrast, investigates marine systems through physical, chemical, biological, and geological perspectives.

DAOS currently remains a virtual department, led by an acting Head of Department and supported by a distributed supervisory network. This networked model enables continued postgraduate training and research despite limited internal staffing. The department’s five-year development plan aims to transition from its current virtual format to a fully operational academic unit. This process is structured around three core priorities: the accreditation and introduction of new academic programmes, the recruitment of academic staff, and the establishment of a dedicated physical space.

DAOS is closely affiliated with the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research.