Vide a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated 20th July 2006 between the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the Tamil University, Thanjavur, an Ocean & Atmospheric Science and Technology Cell (OASTC) has been established at the Department of Earth Sciences, Tamil University, Thanjavur. This new Cell replaces the Ocean Science and Technology Cell (OSTC) for Beach Placers established by the erstwhile Department of Ocean Development at the Tamil University under an MoU entered into, during December 1998. It is one of the 9 OASTC's established in the varied institutions of our country by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India.

The MoU signed by Dr.C.Subramaniam, Vice Chancellor, Tamil University, Thanjavur – 613 010 and Dr.P.S.Goel, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi, the newly constituted Cell is poised to take up and sanction projects in varied fields of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. The Cell is administered by a Management Board with members approved by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is the Executive body to organize, review, monitor and guide the Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences and Technology Cell (OASTC) in implementing the varied schemes in the Department of Earth Sciences, Tamil University, Thanjavur. The Cell encourages multi-disciplinary and multi-organizational projects.