October 2020

Michael Twardowski, Ph.D., principal investigator and a research professor at FAU’s Harbor Branch, is working with the U.S. Office of Naval Research and academic and corporate partners to develop a next generation ‘gold standard’ sensor that will be compact and versatile in deployment and continue a legacy of research in oceanic bioluminescence and its role in ocean ecology... Read More

Researcher Jordon Beckler, Ph.D., from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is among a team of scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Georgia Tech (Georgia Institute of Technology) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) who are getting a unique glimpse into these blue holes thanks to gutsy divers and a maneuverable 500 pound autonomous, benthic lander designed especially to descend deep into blue holes...Read More

FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is thrilled to be participating in FAU’S new crowdfunding platform, FAU Funder. Each month we will feature a different mission giving you, our supporters, the ability to directly support our research missions.

Did you know FAU's Harbor Branch Researcher Greg O’Corry-Crowe, Ph.D. is studying the impact of climate change on beluga whales in the Arctic? Learn more about our first campaign, Life on the Edge!
Faculty and Staff Spotlights

FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Research Professor Shirley Pomponi, Ph.D., a leading ocean scientist, contributed her expertise as co-chair for the 13-person “Committee on Ensuring Critical Research and Education for the 21st Century” of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). They produced a new report concluding that the sustainability of biological collections is under threat... Watch Webinar
ï»ż
Matt Ajemian, assistant research professor and director, Fisheries Ecology and Conservation Lab, is among this year’s 20 Early-Career Research Fellowship recipients awarded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program. Now in its sixth year, the fellowship is awarded to emerging scientific leaders who are prepared to work at the intersections of environmental health, community health and resilience, and offshore energy system safety in the Gulf of Mexico and other U.S. coastal regions... Read More
Published Research

Author: Annie Page-Karjian, DVM, Ph.D., assistant research professor & clinical veterinarian

Published by Diseases of Aquatic Organisms - September 2020

Authors: Graduate Students Alexis Sturm, Ryan Eckert & Joshua Voss, Ph.D., executive director, Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology

Published by Scientific Reports - September 2020
FAU Harbor Branch News
Scientists analyze how to predict when, where algae...

Florida's east coast has been spared freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee this summer, which often lead to toxic algae blooms. Scientists at Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch are looking for better ways to...

Read more
www.wptv.com
Volunteer Spotlights
Since August 2018, Obby Tapley has volunteered at FAU's Harbor Branch. She's assisted with the Ocean Discovery Visitor Center, Ocean Science Lecture Series, Ocean Science Bowl and Aquaculture. Tapley has also volunteered with Megan Davis, a research professor, since February 2019. Her volunteer projects in Aquaculture focus on the IMTA sea vegetable aquaculture project. Recently she has also helped Dr. Davis with a seafood consumer and buyer behavior class project in collaboration with FAU's College of Business. Tapley is a retired environmental attorney. Her background in this field and her organizational skills, great enthusiasm for team work, and wonderful ideas are a tremendous asset to helping FAU's Harbor Branch projects.
David Milmore has been an enormous help classifying images remotely for research being conducted by Aditya Nayak, Ph.D., and Malcolm McFarland, Ph.D. Milmore helps our researchers make progress on their science goals despite lab and fieldwork being on hold.

ï»ż

FAU Harbor Branch is a proud sponsor of Keep Martin Beautiful's International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) held during the week of Sep. 19 through the 25. FAU Harbor Branch students conducted a beach clean to help protect our coastline.
Hear about our most recent discoveries from the scientists and engineers that made them through FAU's Harbor Branch John and Barbara Ferrara Ocean Science Lecture Series. Our lecture archive goes back ten years and contains more than 100 presentations with topics ranging from sharks to renewable energy. Watch Previous Lectures
FAU's Harbor Branch John and Barbara Ferrara Ocean Science Lecture Series is going virtual with monthly speakers in November and December. The first lecture will feature Shirley Pomponi, Ph.D., discussing NEEMO 23: Simulating Space Exploration in a Real-life Undersea Environment on Wednesday, November 4, at 4 p.m. Stay tuned for additional details.
As a health and safety precaution, FAU's Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Visitors Center is temporarily closed. Please check back for updates. Visit FAU's Harbor Branch social media channels for daily research highlights, facts and trivia questions.

Join us as we take a behind the scenes look around FAU's Harbor Branch! This series will highlight our various research projects, state of the art facilities and equipment, as well as views from our historic 144-acre campus that is located along the Indian River Lagoon.
Bring Ocean Science for A Better WorldÂź right into your home with virtual resources from FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute! Online offerings include lectures, interviews with marine scientists, activities for children and much more! Visit our virtual resources page to learn about these great opportunities for teachers, students and ocean lovers of all ages!... Learn More
Discover the scientists and engineers behind the great work being conducted at FAU's Harbor Branch. During Behind the Science, a fun and informal web chat series, our researchers will tell you what inspired them to pursue a career in marine science, share stories about their adventures, and advice they would give to a future scientist!


Through FAU's Harbor Branch Speakers Bureau, community organizations may request a virtual presentation on a specific research topic or a general overview of FAU's Harbor Branch. This program provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the institute’s most recent discoveries and connect with marine science experts. There is no charge for scheduling a speaker, however an honorarium or donation is encouraged.

If you would like to request a virtual speaker for your group/event, please fill out FAU's Harbor Branch Speakers Bureau request form.
About Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute: 
Founded in 1971, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University is a research community of marine scientists, engineers, educators and other professionals focused on Ocean Science for a Better World. The institute drives innovation in ocean engineering, at-sea operations, drug discovery and biotechnology from the oceans, coastal ecology and conservation, marine mammal research and conservation, aquaculture, ocean observing systems and marine education.