Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has broad marine science and engineering research capabilities and strong marine academic programs through the collective strengths in the CharlesE. Schmidt College of Science (CESCOS), College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) where NOAA’s Cooperative Institute of Ocean Exploration, Research and Technology is based. FAU brings forth marine science and engineering information to policy and human decision making through its School of Urban and Regional Planning in the College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs (CAUPA) as well as the CESCOS Center for Environmental Studies (CES) and its Climate Change Center. Advanced ocean engineering at FAU-SeaTech includes deployment of autonomous underwater and surface platforms and SeaTech is also the home of FAU’s Center of Ocean Energy Technology which has been designated by the U.S Department of Energy as a national center for ocean energy research and development: the Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center (SNMREC).
Together these FAU programs provide scientific and engineering expertise, education, as well as outreach to long-term NOAA priorities of ocean stewardship, and new emerging issues NOAA has prioritized as urgent challenges facing the nation: “energy security and sustainability; climate mitigation and adaptation; sustainable use and protection of ocean and coastal resources; and public health, safety and security.
