Education DirectorEducation Staff
Harbor Branch’s Education Program is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation by students and the public of the importance of the oceans and their impact on our lives. With an ever-increasing demand placed on our oceans, marine science education is crucial for a proper awareness of our critical marine resources and their importance to people. Harbor Branch offers a diverse menu of educational opportunities for students, teachers and the public. Our programs include:
Our programs emphasize a “hands on” approach designed for students and the public to learn about the marine environment and its diverse plants and animals. Much of the strength of our Education Program is due to the interface with Harbor Branch scientists and engineers who serve as instructors in many of our programs. Our programs take advantage of our favorable location along Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, an estuary well-known for its high amount of biodiversity. Nearby habitats include seagrass beds, mangrove forests, salt marshes, mud and sand flats, beaches, rock ledges, and sabellarid worm reefs. Some of our courses include fieldwork in the Florida Keys or in the Bahamas. Overlooking the water, our teaching facility, the Johnson Education Center, is equipped with classrooms, teaching labs, a 350-seat auditorium with sophisticated audio-visual capabilities, and a computer lab. The Education Center is also an ideal location for scientific and corporate conferences, workshops, and retreats. While at Harbor Branch, students gain unparalleled exposure to cutting-edge marine research and state-of-the-art marine technology. Through courses and guest lectures given by staff scientists, field and laboratory research projects, and exposure to the Harbor Branch campus, students obtain a real-world perspective of careers in the marine sciences. For more information on our education programs at Harbor Branch, please feel free to contact us at 772-242-2506 or at education@hboi.fau.edu. |
