Today, FAU celebrated the growth of its Jupiter Life Science Initiative with more than 300 members of the business community, elected officials, students, faculty and staff. With the help of our partners, I provided a legislative and community update, and discussed some of our cutting edge research, the future of our Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, and our student involvement and workforce development efforts.

Thank you to Trustee Robert Stilley, Rep. MaryLynn Magar, Wilkes Honors College Dean Ellen Goldey, Jupiter Life Science Initiative Director Dr. Rod Murphey, Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Director Dr. Gregg Fields, and FAU Brain Institute Executive Director Dr. Randy Blakely. This group of talented individuals joined me onstage to share information about their respective areas, as well as Dr. Tom Kodadek, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cancer Biology at Scripps Florida and Dr. David Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director of the Max Planck Florida Institute. Both of these world-renowned research institutes are located on our John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter.

We also shared the exciting news that FAU’s Brain Institute is now home to a Nikon Center of Excellence. With this partnership, FAU will benefit from Nikon technical expertise and access to high-end research microscopes at a favorable cost, while Nikon gains a showcase for its products and valuable feedback from our scientists. FAU is just the seventh designated center in the United States, joining Princeton and Washington University, and one of only 17 worldwide.

This strategic partnership between FAU and Nikon represents a commitment by both parties to accelerating advancements in neuroscience. The equipment will allow our researchers to see things they have never seen before, and further advance the study of neurological disorders.

FAU is undergoing rapid development as a center of world-class research, due in part to our innovative partnerships with leading global companies such as Nikon. It is exciting to anticipate the new frontiers our faculty and students will cross with access to this state-of-the-art technology.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event. With so much incredible work underway at FAU, it’s impossible not to be a proud Owl!