HARBOR BRANCH, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP RECEIVES MORE THAN $11 MILLION IN FUNDING |
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FORT PIERCE, FL., - June 10, 2002 - Officials at HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution and Florida Atlantic University will move quickly with plans to expand marine science and education programs, now that Gov. Jeb Bush has approved a budget providing more than $11 million for the partnership. Dr. Dennis Hanisak, director of Marine Science and Education at HARBOR BRANCH, said he was "extremely pleased" with the appropriations that are part of the overall FY2002-2003 state budget approved by Gov. Jeb Bush on June 5. "This is a wonderful development for HARBOR BRANCH, FAU and for the entire Treasure Coast and state of Florida, because it will allow us to develop this partnership and implement year-round educational opportunities in the Marine Sciences for Florida's university students," Dr. Hanisak said. The appropriations include $750,000 that will go to HARBOR BRANCH for marine science program funding, and app. $11 million for Florida Atlantic University to construct a marine science and education building at HARBOR BRANCH, as well as for staff positions with both organizations. Dr. Jerry Lafferty, vice-president of FAU's Treasure Coast campus in Port St. Lucie, said "this will enable us to expand on what is already an excellent partnership and bring a greatly-enhanced marine science educational program to this region." State Sen. Ken Pruitt (R-Port St. Lucie) and the entire Treasure Coast delegation were instrumental in supporting the funding proposals and guiding them through the legislative process. Sen. Pruitt has said the funding and expansion of the partnership and programs is vital to his vision of the Treasure Coast region as a center for marine research and education. The next step will be for administrators and educators with both organizations to plan together for what will eventually be a joint-use facility; a mini-FAU marine science and education campus within the boundaries of an organization that is already world-renowned for marine science research and engineering. Students will literally be able to step out of the classroom and into nature's own laboratory, with the Indian River Lagoon and Intracoastal Waterway bounding HARBOR BRANCH property, and the Fort Pierce inlet and the Atlantic Ocean only a few miles away. When not at sea, HARBOR BRANCH's fleet of research ships and submersibles as well as established marine scientists and engineers will be nearby to provide students with not only a teaching resource, but an exciting reminder of how close their eventual goal of being ocean pioneers really is. Dr. Hanisak pointed out that the students who will come out of these programs would be the stewards of the marine environment we all depend on. "We're laying the foundation, not only to teach, but to ensure the future of a wonderful natural resource that is beautiful, and vital, to each and every one of us," Dr. Hanisak said. HARBOR BRANCH Oceanographic Institution, Inc., is one of the world's leading nonprofit oceanographic research organizations dedicated to exploration of the earth's oceans, estuaries and coastal regions for the benefit of mankind. |