February, 2018
Upcoming Events
TODAY
Marine Science Fridays: " Raising Bonefish in Captivity: Protecting an Important Sportfish "   | Presented by Bob Halstead | Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Visitors Center | 12:00 p.m. [ More info ]

Wednesday, Feb 28
Harbor Branch Immersion Tour | Ocean Discovery Visitors Center | 10:30 a.m. [ More info ]

Wednesday, Feb 28
Ocean Science Lecture Series:   "L istening to Noisy Coral Reefs and What They Can Tell Us " |Presented by Aran Mooney, Woods Hole | FAU Harbor Branch | 4:00 p.m . [ More info ] 

Friday, Mar 1
Deadline to Apply for Summer Internship [ More info ]

Wednesday, Mar 14
Indian River Lagoon Boat Tour | Ocean Discovery Visitors Center | 10:00 a.m. [ More info ]

Thursday, Mar 15
Marine Science and Oceanography Graduate Program now accepting applications for Fall 2018 admission. Apply by March 15, 2018. [ More info ]
Indian River Lagoon Symposium Success
FAU Harbor Branch’s 2018  Indian River Lagoon Symposium and Public Forum was a success, with over 350 participants attending including students and research scientists from across the state. 
 
The symposium focused on the theme 'Restoration of the Indian River Lagoon'. Oral presentations and posters on all aspects of science relating to the Indian River Lagoon were presented. The second day of the event was dedicated to a public forum, focused on Engaging the Public: Restoration of the Indian River Lagoon – how the public can learn more about and participate in restoration of the Lagoon. 

The event was reported on in TcPalm; view the article here.

A video recording of the event can be watched here. The event program ( here) provides information about presentation topics.
Watch Live at Home: Ocean Science Lecture Series
You can watch the Ocean Science Lecture Series from the comfort of your own home!

Click here to watch previously recorded lectures OR watch live with the live stream on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m..
Research
Sea Technology Magazine: Exploration and Discovery of Cuba's Deep Mesophotic Coral Reefs
The Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology (CIOERT) at FAU Harbor Branch recently led a joint scientific expedition with Cuban colleagues to map and characterize, for the first time, mesophotic coral ecosystems along the entire coastline of Cuba. Prior to this expedition, there was very little known about the extent and the health of Cuba’s deep mesophotic reefs. After more than a year of planning, the 30-day research cruise circumnavigated Cuba and discovered deep coral reefs all along the shelf drop-off.  Read the full article here.
NOAA Assessment of Florida’s Mesophotic Coral Reefs Published
A multi-institutional team of scientists funded by National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science has  published an assessment of the mesophotic coral reefs (75–270 feet deep) located roughly 150 miles off of Florida’s southwest coast. The report summarizes habitat, macrobiota, and fish population data collected during four research cruises from 2012 to 2015 within and adjacent to the Pulley Ridge Habitat Area of Particular Concern and at sites adjacent to the North and South Tortugas Ecological Reserves and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The researchers are investigating the role that these mesophotic reefs may play in replenishing commercially important fish species, such as grouper and snapper, and other organisms in the shallower, downstream reefs of the Florida Keys. 

Researchers at FAU Harbor Branch have been involved in the Pulley Ridge project for many years. A report summarizing the project, written in part by FAU Harbor Branch's John Reed (lead author), Stephanie Farrington, Josh Voss, Shirley Pomponi and Dennis Hanisak, can be read  here.
Student News
Sturm Receives Florida Sea Grant Scholarship
Alexis Sturm, a doctoral student in the  lab of Dr. Joshua Voss, was ranked as the top applicant for the  Florida Sea Grant Scholar position. She is one of five outstanding Florida college students selected.

The $2,000 scholarship award is intended to help the student broaden the scope of their ongoing research in order to pursue a new idea that will advance their field of inquiry and perhaps lead to a practical application with further work.

Lexie's proposed research focuses on understanding connectivity among coral reef communities in U.S. waters and those off the coast of Cuba. She plans to use the funding to implement new molecular techniques in her coral population genetics research and to expand her outreach efforts in Florida and Cuba. She will also use the support from Florida Sea Grant to present at the Ecological Society of America meeting this summer.

Congratulations Lexie!
For an immersion in a marine science or technology internship, apply to the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University Summer Internship Program. Open to qualified undergraduate and graduate students, the 10-week program is designed to provide hands-on experience in a research environment in areas.
The Marine Science and Oceanography graduate degree program is an unprecedented opportunity for graduate students to earn a master's degree while working alongside leading scientists and engineers at FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.

Join Us!
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