Harbor Branch Mission and Credo

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI) is dedicated to exploring the world's oceans, integrating the science and technology of the sea with the needs of humankind. Our staff of over 250 includes scientists, engineers, mariners and support personnel. We are involved in research and education in the marine sciences; biological, chemical, and environmental sciences; marine biomedical sciences; marine mammal conservation; aquaculture; and ocean engineering. We have a wide variety of educational programs and products to raise public awareness of the marine environment, illustrating how the health of our planet is inextricably linked to the state of our oceans.

HBOI scientists are involved in a wide variety of research and conservation programs: to understand the life histories of deep sea marine species; to help improve the health of threatened and endangered marine mammals; to establish sustainable and environmentally responsible aquaculture techniques; to discover novel marine compounds that may hold the cure to human diseases like cancer; to educate the next generation of marine scientists and engineers; and to use sophisticated ship and submersible technologies to assess biodiversity and help us better understand our complex ocean ecosystems.

THE HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION CREDO

As the human is the dominant species on earth, and as the earth's surface is over 70% water, still holding within its depths most of the secrets yet to confront the consciousness of mankind, it is our intent at Harbor Branch to help unravel the planet ocean's mysteries. In so doing, we intend to contribute to the growing understanding of evolution; environmentally, historically, and biodevelopmentally, thus helping to find keys to the survival, prosperity, and destiny of mankind. Toward these ends, we have developed the following corollaries of purpose -

• To promote science and engineering research and development.

• To seek a mix and balance of scientific programs that are responsive to the needs of society, and thus to form, through the synergy of their corresponding disciplines, a whole that magnifies the sum of its parts.

• To attract a growing concentration of talent through the strength of our accomplishments, together with visiting expertise and outside partnerships.

• To communicate our hypothesis and research findings through publications, patents, symposia, and educational programs.

• To work in concert, discipline by discipline, with other organizations so that the accumulated body of knowledge gained can be efficiently utilized to the benefit of mankind.

• To seek balance between current effectiveness and longevity of accomplishment in our mix of endowment build up and operating expenditures.

• To ensure our employees just and ethical management, promoting equal opportunity; dignity in their jobs; advancement based on performance; and a system to communicate their suggestions and complaints that includes a responsive ear.

• To expect and receive the same loyalty, ethical standards, fairness, dedication, and hard work from employees as they may expect from management.

• To accept only the highest practical standard of safety.

• To serve our community and region in sensitive and cooperative exchange.

• To promote leadership, progress, economy, and efficiency.

• To deserve the support and respect of the general public, foundations, and government agencies, returning more than we receive.