Michael Twardowski, Ph.D., Named Edwin A. Link Endowed Professor
Michael Twardowski, Ph.D., an internationally recognized expert in optical oceanography and marine sensing technologies, has been named the Edwin A. Link Ocean Technology and Defense Endowed Professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. This first endowed professorship at FAU Harbor Branch was made possible through the generous support of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation, Inc., which has helped advance groundbreaking oceanographic research and education at FAU for decades.
Keep reading. |
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FAU Continues Upward Rise in National Ranking
Florida Atlantic moved up to No. 99 for the first time in the U.S. News & World Report 2027 rankings of “Top Public Schools,” its highest position ever. The one spot gain over last year keeps Florida Atlantic rising among the nation’s Top 100 public universities.
Keep reading. |
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FAU Scientist Helps Create Caribbean 'Frozen Zoo' During Historic Deep-Sea Expedition
Megan Conkling, Ph.D., research scientist at FAU Harbor Branch, spent a month aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) as part of the Deep Wonders expedition, which explored deepwater environments around Trinidad and Tobago. Conkling's work focused on testing a simpler way to preserve deep-sea life while training Caribbean scientists to build a living biobank.
Keep reading.
Photo credit: Mónika Naranjo González / Schmidt Ocean Institute |
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FAU Joins Multi-institutional Shark Research Project
FAU Harbor Branch has been tapped for a new NOAA-funded research project to study how shark species prohibited from harvest in federal Atlantic waters use marine habitats along the U.S. Atlantic coast from New England to South Florida. The study, led by University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, aims to gain new insights into movement of highly migratory shark species, providing NOAA and other resource managers with actionable information to support fisheries and ecosystem-based management and shark conservation.
Keep reading.
Photo courtesy of University of Massachusetts Dartmouth |
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Fin of the Month: SOKA and c2SOKA
Meet SOKA, an Indian River Lagoon dolphin, and her calf, c2SOKA. On Aug. 3, FAU Harbor Branch's marine mammal team saw them during a photo-ID survey in the St. Lucie River and noticed that the calf had significant boat strike injuries to the dorsal fin. Through consistent photo-id surveys, the team has observed significant healing in the wounds, but the calf still faces challenges due to the altered shape of its dorsal fin.
Read on to learn more about this dolphin pair.
If you see a marine mammal in distress, call the FWC hotline (888) 404-3922.
All work conducted under NOAA NMFS permit #29340. |
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Marine Mammal Team Launches New Tool to Research Local Dolphins
The FAU Harbor Branch Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment team is gaining a new perspective on dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL).
By pairing aerial imagery with precise altitude data from a Freefly Astro Max drone, the team can use photogrammetry to calculate dolphin body measurements. These measurements help researchers assess body condition, which can be indicative of an animal's health, habitat quality, prey availability, growth rate and reproductive state. The aerial view also captures more of a dolphin's body, allowing the team to detect entanglements sooner and work with stranding partners to plan a response.
Adding this new tool to long-term monitoring efforts gives a clearer picture of dolphin and ecosystem health in the IRL. |
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Marine and Oceanographic Academy Launches New Labs
Fort Pierce Westwood's Marine and Oceanographic Academy (MOA) started the school year with a new laboratory curriculum designed by FAU Harbor Branch educators. Labs in September included: using spectrophotometers to investigate the influence of pH on enzyme activity; a functional biology experiment using shrimp to understand the effect of temperature on respiration; and a visit to the FAU Harbor Branch Seagrass Nursery to learn how to measure shoot abundance in seagrass tanks. |
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Junior Scientist Program Kicks Off with FAU Harbor Branch Tour
FAU Harbor Branch welcomed 15 high school students from Indian River County to the 2026-2027 cohort of the Junior Scientist Program. Over the next several months, these fellows will work alongside scientists, educators and resource managers to conduct scientific research at the Indian River Land Trust's Coastal Oaks Preserve. Their research will contribute to the protection and preservation of local ecosystems. |
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Marine Energy Survey
Did you know the Gulf Stream - one of the world's strongest currents - can flow up to 5.6 miles per hour and move nearly 4 billion cubic feet of water every second from Florida to Europe? At FAU's Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center, researchers are harnessing this powerful force of nature into energy solutions for Florida's coastal communities.
Help shape the future of marine energy in Florida by taking a quick, 10-question survey. |
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$5M WLW Seed4Solutions Grant Program
The newly launched WLW Seed4Solutions Grant Program—made possible by Wayne and Lucretia Weiner— is now accepting Letters of Interest, featuring a $5 million total funding pool designed to support practical, research-based, near-term solutions addressing Southeast Florida’s environmental challenges. Letter of Interest deadline is Dec. 11.
Semester by The Sea
Semester by the Sea is a unique spring semester program that offers undergraduates an intensive, hands-on marine science experience on the FAU Harbor Branch campus in Fort Pierce. Application deadline is Oct. 22.
WLW-ECOS Semester by the Sea Scholarships are available to students in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. Click here for details on eligibility and the scholarship application process.
Art of Science Contest
The Art of Science showcases original images and footage of the inherent beauty in research, scholarship and creative activity across Florida Atlantic. Winners will be showcased in the University Galleries; highlighted across social media and news outlets; and awarded exciting prizes such as Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses, a Meta Quest 3 V4 headset, Apple 4k TV, Anker products, and more. Submissions are due Friday, Oct. 9.
Blue/Ocean Ambassador Opportunities
Two blue/ocean economy ambassador programs are now open to Florida Atlantic undergraduate and graduate students from all majors. The programs are offered in partnership with Marine Research Hub, Ocean Exchange, and Florida Atlantic's ECOS and Entrepreneurship Institute, with funding support from VentureWell and Wayne and Lucretia Weiner. |
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Path of the Panther: A Visual Journey to Preserve Wild Florida
Monday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.
Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium, Student Union
Boca Raton Campus
Join National Geographic Explorer and conservation photographer Carlton Ward Jr. for an extraordinary look into Florida’s endangered wild lands and animals at Florida Atlantic's inaugural WLW Visiting Fellows Lecture.
Get tickets. |
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Distinguished Speaker Series
M++: Post-Hoc Scale-Invariant Multilayer OOD Detection via
Top-K Gated Feature Fusion
Thursday, Oct. 15 at 11 a.m.
Engineering East Conference Room 303, Boca Raton Campus
Virtual Available
The Institute for Smarter Cities, Spaces, and Health welcomes SUNY Binghamton professor KD Kang, Ph.D., to Florida Atlantic.
Register. |
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| FAU Harbor Branch's outreach team travels to events throughout Florida with hands-on marine science educational exhibits and activities. In addition, FAU Harbor Branch scientists share their expertise through public lectures and workshops. |
Manatee Center Lunch & Learn
Speaker: Rachel Brewton, Ph.D.
Friday, Oct. 9
Noon to 1 p.m.
Fort Pierce Yacht Club
Learn by the Lagoon - Jaycee Park Mural Unveiling
Saturday, Oct. 10
9 a.m. to Noon
Jaycee Park, Fort Pierce
Indian River Lagoon Science Festival
Saturday, Oct. 24
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Museum Pointe Park, Fort Pierce
LagoonFest
Saturday, Oct. 31
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach
Marine Mammal Festival
Saturday, Nov. 14
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Florida Oceanographic Society, Stuart
Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County Chili Cook-Off
Saturday, Nov. 14
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Clover Park, Port St. Lucie |
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Giving Day 2026: Most Successful Year to Date at FAU Harbor Branch
On Sept. 17, Florida Atlantic University came together for its annual Giving Day fundraising drive. Donors both inside and outside the university gave to programs, initiatives and research that meant the most to them. For FAU Harbor Branch, 85 donors raised $13,500 to support 12 Harbor Branch priorities, representing a 28% increase in donors and a 43% increase in giving over last year. Whether you made a gift, shared our message, encouraged a colleague, or simply helped spread the word, we thank every person for being part of Giving Day 2026. |
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