Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., located in Fort Pierce, Florida, is a private, non-profit research organization dedicated to exploring and understanding the oceans for the benefit of all mankind. Celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2006, Harbor Branch is the only oceanographic institution in Florida to operate a research submersible. This unique asset provides Harbor Branch scientists, as well as those from other US and international institutions, access to habitats down to 3,000 feet below the surface of the oceans. Investigations range from studying and answering basic science questions to doing very applied research in search of specific answers and solutions to stated needs. Basic research is funded by the National Science Foundation, whereas Harbor Branch’s applied research portfolio in funded by the State of Florida, local governments, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Agriculture and the US Navy. With 220 scientists, engineers and support staff, the institution:

• Operates a ship and a manned submersible for research purposes;
• Conducts research in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture to find ways to grow salt-water fish in fresh water using efficient and environmentally benign methods;
• Carries out a drug discovery program that seeks to derive new treatments and cures for human diseases from compounds obtained from marine organisms;
• Develops and builds instruments and sensors to create solutions for those needing innovative tools to carry out work in the ocean;
• Studies the ecology of the Indian River Lagoon and the impacts from increased human activity along coastal areas as they pertain to:
• Sea grass health;
• Effects and sources of nutrient pollution;
• Marine mammal health, population dynamics and emerging marine mammal diseases; and
• Offers marine science education for undergraduate and graduate students in partnership with Florida Atlantic University.

Harbor Branch also has 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.

For more information about the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, visit our website at http://www.hboi.edu.