Photo credit: Shane Gross | | |
Chef José Andrés' Longer Tables Fund Will Expand Queen Conch Lab
Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute was awarded a grant by the Longer Tables Fund to develop a community-based aquaculture facility for conservation and restoration of the queen conch on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas. Through a strategic partnership with The Island School’s Cape Eleuthera Institute, the Queen Conch Conservancy: A Community-Based Aquaculture Restoration Project will address the needs to ensure longevity of the species.
Launched by Chef José Andrés with support from the Bezos Courage and Civility Award, the Longer Tables Fund invests in innovative solutions that transform food systems, rebuild communities, and empower the next generation of food leaders.
Read more.
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Longer Tables with
Chef José Andrés
Megan Davis, Ph.D., director of the Queen Conch Lab and research professor at FAU Harbor Branch, shared the story of the queen conch with Chef José Andrés on his Longer Tables Substack. Davis fell in love with the queen conch 50 years ago. Her passion for the beautiful - and ecologically and economically significant - mollusk drives her mission to establish queen conch mobile aquaculture labs in every Caribbean country.
Read the interview.
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New Research: Green Seaweed Replaces Seagrass in IRL
Years of intense algal blooms - fueled by pollution and nutrient overload - wiped out vast stretches of seagrass beds in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). In the wake of this collapse, a green seaweed has rapidly covered empty sections of the seafloor. A recent study led by Rachel Brewton, Ph.D., an assistant research professor at FAU Harbor Branch, investigated the ecological impact of this major shift in fauna in the lagoon.
Read more.
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Marine Energy Survey
Did you know the Gulf Stream - one of the world's strongest currents - can flow up to 5.6 miles per hour and move nearly 4 billion cubic feet of water every second from Florida to Europe? At FAU's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center, researchers are harnessing this powerful force of nature into energy solutions for Florida's coastal communities.
Help shape the future of marine energy in Florida by taking a quick, 10-question survey.
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Fin of the Month: First (FRST)
Meet FRST, also known as First, who was first identified by the FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment team (MMSPA) in November 2020.
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The image on the right was submitted by one of our citizen scientists, a registered Dolphin Spotter, and the land-based photo was successfully matched to the MMSPA team's photo-identification catalog (NOAA NMFS LOC No. 23069-01). This was the first named animal in the MMSPA’s catalogue, hence the name “First.” First has been seen by the team at least 13 times since!
Can you spot the similarities in these photos? The team uses the unique markings on their dorsal fins to identify individual dolphins, much like how we use our fingerprints. These sightings help the MMSPA team better understand movement patterns of bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon.
Registered Spotters can view all 531 sightings ranging from New Smyrna to Stuart on the mobile app WatchSpotter. Becoming a citizen scientist is a great way to support our ongoing marine mammal research. Visit our website to get started.
The photo on the left was taken by the FAU HBOI MMSPA program (NOAA NMFS LOC No. 23069-01). All citizen scientist land-based photos have been submitted through the FAU Harbor Branch Dolphin Spotter project in accordance with the program’s guidelines and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
If you see dolphins while out on the water, please remember to stay 50 yards away. If you see a marine mammal in distress, please call the FWC hotline (888) 404-3922.
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Steve Burton on the Bob Soos Radio Show
Listen to Steve Burton's latest conversation with radio host Bob Soos. Burton, director of the Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment team, reported on recent dolphin and whale sightings along the Treasure Coast and gave an update on the overall health of the Indian River Lagoon's dolphin population.
| | Photo credit: Sevin Bullwinkle | | |
Sold-out Crowd at International Ocean Film Festival: Florida Tour
FAU Harbor Branch marked World Oceans Day with the third annual International Ocean Film Festival: Florida Tour, presented by Schmidt Marine Technology Partners.
Set along the waterfront at the FAU Harbor Branch campus, a sold-out crowd enjoyed an afternoon of inspiring, ocean-themed independent films and a variety of engaging activities led by Harbor Branch faculty, staff and students. These included tours of the award-winning Discovery eco-tour boat, demonstrations with the marine mammal rescue ambulance, meet-and-greets with researchers and our life-size inflatable humpback whale.
“We had an incredible group of people join us to celebrate our oceans,” said Brandon McHenry, assistant director of development at FAU Harbor Branch. “This event was a unique opportunity to gather our community and share meaningful conversations about how marine science research translates into real-world conservation.”
The film festival also raised over $7,000 to support student success at FAU Harbor Branch. These funds will help graduate students attend scientific conferences, publish their research, purchase project supplies and continue making waves in ocean science.
Additional sponsorship support was provided by John and Barbara Ferrera, Don and Penny Pray, and Fort Pierce Utilities Authority.
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Kalu Okigwe is a summer graduate student intern working in the lab of Timothy Moore, Ph.D., an associate research professor at FAU Harbor Branch. Moore's lab focuses on remote sensing - a powerful tool that utilizes high-resolution satellite imagery for broad detection and monitoring of harmful algal blooms on fine scales over large areas.
During a recent day in the field, Okigwe, Moore and Ipanema Mora-Carrera, a research associate in the lab, conducted radiometric measurements on the #IndianRiverLagoon as part of a satellite data validation research project. The team is using in situ observations to validate imagery from two satellites, supported by #NASA PRISM data and water quality records from the St. Johns River Water Management District.
This work contributes to improving atmospheric correction and water quality assessment from satellite observations.
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Bella Holden is an undergraduate intern working under Gabby McHenry, Ph.D., director of education and outreach at FAU Harbor Branch. This summer, Holden is working on incorporating a hydrophone into the public boat tours and developing a new exhibit in the Ocean Discovery Visitors Center. The exhibit will focus on underwater sounds and explain the Fisheries Ecology and Conservation lab’s marine acoustics research. In addition, Holden has taken part in a variety of outreach events, allowing her to engage the community with ocean soundscapes.
During a recent day in the field, Holden captured the sound of dolphin whistles on the hydrophone. She is working with the tour guides to develop a plan to deploy hydrophones when dolphins are observed.
These projects present unique opportunities to engage and educate the public about the hidden world of underwater sound. Holden said she is excited to debut them in the coming weeks.
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WLW-ECOS Student Success Scholarship
Apply for the new WLW Environment and Student Success Scholarship! Undergraduate students with a demonstrated interest in environmental science can apply for up to $7,500 in support for the Fall 2025 semester.
Fall deadline to apply: Aug. 22, 2025.
Learn more and apply.
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R1 on the Road
Florida Atlantic continued the celebration of achieving Research 1 (R1) status and Opportunity College and University designation from the Carnegie Classifications through a series of presentations to professional organizations throughout South Florida. Florida Atlantic is one of just 21 institutions of higher education in the country to earn both of these prestigious accolades. In May and June, Gregg Fields, Ph.D., vice president for Research, shared the R1 story at gatherings for the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County (St. Lucie EDC). In addition, James Sullivan, Ph.D., executive director of FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, participated on an expert panel about marine industries in South Florida at the Palm Beach North Chamber event. Sullivan was a guest speaker at the St. Lucie EDC event where he shared the latest Harbor Branch research and initiatives.
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Summer Passport 2025
The St. Lucie County Summer Passport is underway for summer 2025. This unique youth program is a partnership between the St. Lucie County Children's Services Council and the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce to match summer campers with local businesses to provide unique experiences they may not otherwise encounter. This is the second year FAU Harbor Branch has participated in the program, and the outreach team has already engaged 137 people through customized activities including Indian River Lagoon boat tours, campus tram tours and Ocean Discovery Visitors Center experiences. Visiting groups include Ignite Youth Alliance, Helping People Succeed and the Zoe Live Creative Arts Academy.
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Explore the Indian River Lagoon on the Discovery pontoon!
VOTED BEST ECO-ADVENTURE
IN INDIAN RIVER MAGAZINE'S BEST OF THE TREASURE COAST 2025
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FAU Harbor Branch's outreach team travels to events throughout Florida with hands-on marine science educational exhibits and activities. In addition, FAU Harbor Branch scientists share their expertise through public lectures and workshops.
Downtown Friday Vero Beach
Outdoor Festival
Friday, June 27, 6 to 9 p.m.
Downtown Vero Beach
Summer Monday Guest Speakers
Speakers Bureau
Monday, July 28, 10:30 a.m.
Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast, Jensen Beach*
*Museum entry fees may apply.
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Florida Atlantic Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute | Website
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