Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Florida Atlantic University, also commonly referred to as HBOI or HBOI at FAU, is a non-profit oceanographic institution operated by Florida Atlantic University in Fort Pierce, Florida, USA.

History and features

Founded in 1971 by John Seward Johnson I, Harbor Branch is located on a convert|600|acre|km2|sing=on campus along the Indian River Lagoon. Its staff includes over 200 scientists, engineers, mariners, and support personnel.cite web | title = Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution - History | publisher = Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution | url =http://www.hboi.edu/news/history.html | accessdate =2007-05-27] The institute has a $40 million endowment and research grants totaling $15 million a year. Institution assets include a convert|204|ft|m|sing=on research vessel, a pair of submarines with the ability to reach more than half-mile under the ocean and a library of 47,000 sponges and microorganisms. "Harbor Branch may be known best for its scientists' 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."cite news | last =Bierman | first =Noah | title =Harbor Branch institute becoming part of Florida Atlantic University | publisher = Herald-Tribune | date =2007-06-18 | url =http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070618/NEWS/706180563 | accessdate = 2007-07-09] The Institution is "among three organizations in America, and six in the world, that run manned deep-sea submersible research vehicles along the ocean floor." Harbor Branch merged into Florida Atlantic University in 2007.cite news | last =Reed | first =Charlie | title =Work begins on merger plan for Harbor Branch and FAU | publisher = Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers | date =2007-05-17 | url =http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5540530,00.html | accessdate = 2007-05-27 ]

Divisions

The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution consists of the following seven divisions:
* Aquaculture
* Biomedical Marine Research
* Engineering Research and Development
* Marine Operations
* Marine Science
* Marine Mammal Research
* Conservation

Florida Atlantic University

In 2004, following successive hurricanes and the loss of its annual funding from the family of the institution's founder, Harbor Branch began looking for alternative options to continue its operations and reduce its debt. State and local officials stepped into help when it was announced that an outside company was considering purchasing some of the HBOI's riverfront property for development. Following negotiations, the institution decided to reject the developer's proposal in favor of a proposal to merge with Florida Atlantic University.

In November 2006, Florida Atlantic University opened an $11 million joint use marine science center on the campus of the HBOI. This convert|40000|sqft|m2|sing=on facility includes laboratories and supporting infrastructure to focus on marine science.cite press release
title =FAU and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution Host Dedication Ceremony for New Marine Science Building | publisher =Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution | date =2006-11-13 | url =http://www.hboi.edu/news/press/nov1306.html | accessdate = 2007-05-27]

In December of 2007, Harbor Branch merged with the university to become the HBOI at FAU. During the 2007 legislative session, the State of Florida allocated $8.5 million in yearly recurring funds and $44.6 million in one-time construction costs in order to fund the acquisition. FAU was deeded convert|125|acre|km2 and the institution's infrastructure, including its employees. All employees were guaranteed employment for one year. St. Lucie County and the State of Florida have also agreed to purchase the remainder of Harbor Branch's undeveloped property. This will enable the HBOI to further pay down its debt and ensure that its undeveloped land is preserved. A unique benefit of this merger is that as a part of Florida's university system Harbor Branch would be eligible for a state match of all awards and grants received.

References

External links

* [http://www.hboi.edu Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution]
* [http://www.fau.edu Florida Atlantic University]