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Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

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Coordinates: 27°32′03″N 80°21′20″W / 27.534053°N 80.355453°W / 27.534053; -80.355453
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Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Former name
Harbor Branch Foundation
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
TypeResearch Institute
Established1971; 53 years ago (1971)
FoundersJ. Seward Johnson, Sr.
Parent institution
Florida Atlantic University
DirectorJames M. Sullivan
Total staff
200[1]
Address
5600 US-1
,
Fort Pierce
,
Florida
,
34946
,
United States

27°32′03″N 80°21′20″W / 27.534053°N 80.355453°W / 27.534053; -80.355453
Campus144-acre (0.58 km2)
Websitewww.fau.edu/hboi/

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI, FAU Harbor Branch) is a non-profit oceanographic institution operated by Florida Atlantic University in Fort Pierce, Florida, United States. Founded in 1971 as non-profit research organization, the institution was transferred to FAU in 2007.

History

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HBOI was founded in 1971 as Harbor Branch Foundation by J. Seward Johnson, Sr. in collaboration with Edwin Albert Link as a non-profit research organization. The name was subsequently changed to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution.[1][2] Link built the Johnson Sea Link, type of deep-sea scientific research submersibles. The first submersible, Johnson Sea Link I was built in 1971 and was the successor to Link's previous submersible, Deep Diver. Johnson Sea Link II was built in 1975.[1]

In December 2007, the assets and parcels of land of the research institute were transferred to FAU and the current name was adapted.[3] To fund the acquisition, the State of Florida allocated $44.6 million in one-time construction costs plus $8.5 million in annual operating funds.[4] The governing board of the former HBOI then became the governing board of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation which retained other parcels of land, an endowment funded by the J. Seward Johnson, Sr. Charitable Trust Endowment Fund and the Seward Johnson Trust Fund for Oceanography, and as the legislatively-dictated recipient of four Florida Specialty License plates. The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation exists today with a mission to support the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.[2][5] The foundation funds are partially controlled by the FAU board.[6][7]

Campus

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HBOI Welcome Center
HBOI-FAU Marine Science Building.

HBOI is located on a 144-acre (0.58 km2) campus along the Indian River Lagoon north of Fort Pierce, Florida along the Indian River Lagoon estuary and near an Atlantic Ocean inlet. The campus hosts 32 buildings and more than 150 faculty and staff. It is the northernmost campus of the university.[3]

Academics

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The Johnson Sea Link.

HBOI research and education focuses on biological oceanography, estuarine to deep sea ecology, aquaculture, discovery and development of natural products for medicines and other uses, and ocean engineering. Its staff includes more than 160 scientists, engineers, mariners, and support personnel. Funding sources include grants and Florida state educational and general funds, Florida specialty license plates, donations, and other institutional support.

HBOI accounts for about one-third of FAU's research activity,[1] in the following research areas:

  • Aquaculture & Stock Enhancement
  • Marine Biomedical & Biotechnology Research
  • Marine Ecosystem Health
  • Ocean Dynamics and Modeling
  • Marine Science Education
  • Ocean Engineering & Technology

Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Center

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The Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Center is open to the public in Fort Pierce. The Center features interactive exhibits about the environment of the ocean, live marine creatures, a video theater, and displays about the research activities of the Institute. The Center is closed on Sundays and major holidays.

NOAA CIOERT

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Since May 2009, HBOI has been the headquarters of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research & Technology (CIOERT), which is co-managed by University of North Carolina Wilmington and includes partners SRI International, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, and the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Science. CIOERT priorities include development of advanced underwater technologies, exploration and research of frontier regions of the eastern US continental shelf and beyond, improved understanding of vulnerable deep and shallow coral ecosystems, and improved ocean literacy.

Marine and Oceanographic Academy

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Since August 2007, HBOI has been home to Westwood High School's Marine and Oceanographic Academy (MOA), a magnet school with a diverse student body from across the St. Lucie County School District. The school, formed through a partnership between HBOI and the school district, infuses a marine and oceanographic focus into the core high school curriculum.

Accomplishments

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  • More than 9,400 ocean exploration and sample collection dives used the Johnson Sea Link submersible, which was capable of reaching more than a half-mile under the ocean, and libraries of marine sponges and microbial creatures numbering in the tens of thousands.[8][9]
  • Discovery of the Challenger space shuttle rocket booster on the ocean floor – "the smoking gun that proved a faulty O-ring caused the 1986 explosion,".[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Augliere, Bethany (November 2021). "Marking Half a Century". Vero Beach Portfolio Magazine. pp. 64–65, 92. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Financial Statements – Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation, Inc (PDF) (Report). FAU. 2019–2020. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Division of Academic Affairs: Faculty Handbook (PDF) (Report). Florida Atlantic University. 2015. p. 10. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Bierman, Noah (June 18, 2007). "Harbor Branch institute becoming part of Florida Atlantic University". Herald-Tribune. Archived from the original on September 17, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Snyder, Florence (April 30, 2017). "Hold the door on DSOs, Part 2; FAU says FU to 'crown jewel'". Florida Politics. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Andreassi, George (January 20, 2022). "FAU appears to gain more authority over Harbor Branch funds". Vero News. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Martinez, Federico (May 16, 2019). "FAU insider: Red ink led to grab for Harbor Branch funds". Vero News. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Gaskill, Melissa (August 22, 2011). "End of an era for research subs". Nature. doi:10.1038/news.2011.488. ISSN 1476-4687. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  9. ^ Thomas, Steve (April 17, 2022). "Subs evoke memories as Harbor Branch celebrates 50th". Vero News. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  10. ^ Treadway, Tyler (May 7, 2009). "Harbor Branch might retire 2 marine research submersibles". Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
  11. ^ FAU – Rescuing Winter. Fau.edu (December 10, 2005). Retrieved February 12, 2014.
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