Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute facts for kids
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|
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Former name
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Harbor Branch Foundation Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution |
|---|---|
| Type | Research Institute |
| Established | 1971 |
| Founders | J. Seward Johnson, Sr. |
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Parent institution
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Florida Atlantic University |
| Director | James M. Sullivan |
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Total staff
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200 |
| Address |
5600 US-1
,
,
Florida
,
34946
,
United States
27°32′03″N 80°21′20″W / 27.534053°N 80.355453°W |
| Campus | 144-acre (0.58 km2) |
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The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (often called HBOI or FAU Harbor Branch) is a special place in Fort Pierce, Florida, USA. It's like a big science center that studies the ocean. It's part of Florida Atlantic University. HBOI started in 1971 as a group that does research without making a profit. In 2007, it became part of FAU.
Contents
History of HBOI
HBOI began in 1971 as the Harbor Branch Foundation. It was started by J. Seward Johnson, Sr. and Edwin Albert Link. They wanted to create a group that would do important ocean research.
The name later changed to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Edwin Link helped build special deep-sea submersibles. These are like small submarines used for science. The first one, Johnson Sea Link I, was built in 1971. Another one, Johnson Sea Link II, was built in 1975.
In 2007, HBOI joined Florida Atlantic University (FAU). The State of Florida helped pay for this. The original HBOI group then became the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation. This foundation still helps support the work done at HBOI today.
Exploring the Campus
HBOI is located on a large campus of about 144-acre (0.58 km2). It sits along the Indian River Lagoon in Florida. This area is close to the Atlantic Ocean.
The campus has 32 buildings. More than 150 scientists and staff work there. It is the northernmost campus of Florida Atlantic University.
Ocean Research and Learning
HBOI focuses on many types of ocean research and education. Their work includes:
- Studying ocean life (biological oceanography).
- Looking at environments from estuaries (where rivers meet the sea) to the deep ocean.
- Learning about aquaculture, which is like farming in water.
- Finding natural products from the ocean for medicines.
- Developing new ocean engineering technologies.
More than 160 scientists, engineers, and sailors work at HBOI. They get money from grants, state funds, and donations. HBOI does about one-third of all the research at FAU.
Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Center
The Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Center is a fun place for the public to visit. It is located in Fort Pierce, Florida. You can see interactive exhibits about the ocean. There are also live marine animals to observe. The center has a video theater and displays about the research done at HBOI. It is closed on Sundays and major holidays.
NOAA Partnership
Since 2009, HBOI has been the main center for a special group called CIOERT. This stands for the Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research & Technology. It works with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This partnership helps develop new underwater tools. They also explore new parts of the ocean. They study coral reefs and help people learn more about the ocean.
Marine and Oceanographic Academy
Since 2007, HBOI has been home to the Marine and Oceanographic Academy (MOA). This is a special high school program. Students from across St. Lucie County can attend. The school works with HBOI to teach students about marine science. This focus is part of their regular high school classes.
Major Discoveries and Help
HBOI has made many important contributions:
- The Johnson Sea Link submersible was used for over 9,400 dives. It could go more than half a mile deep. Scientists collected thousands of marine sponges and microbes.
- They helped find the Challenger space shuttle rocket booster on the ocean floor. This helped explain what caused the 1986 explosion.
- They examined the wreckage of the USS Monitor. This was a Civil War battleship that sank in 1862.
- They helped rescue Winter in December 2005. Winter was a bottlenose dolphin who later starred in the movie Dolphin Tale.
