Proposal

Narrative

Florida Atlantic University is on a mission to achieve excellence in community engagement and national recognition of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU Strategic Plan 2015-2025, p. 3, 10). Over the last seven years, the Outreach Team at FAU Harbor Branch has supported this effort by training our students in scientific communication and sharing their work with about 100,000 community members and stakeholders annually. This real-world experience is hard to gain in a classroom and is vital to students' success. Our goal is to support student community engagement with the Technology Fee Grant by: Part 1: Replace outdated presentation technology so that students can continue to participate in Speaker Bureau and Ocean Discovery Experience, two wildly popular offsite programs that share FAU Harbor Branch research with community groups, students and even the Boys & Girls Club through presentations, activities, and more. Part 2: Provide new technology for students to create displays in the Ocean Discovery Visitors Center: the public gateway to FAU Harbor Branch. Once created, these displays are modified and shared with partner nature centers. Students also create accompanying hands-on activities which are brought to community festivals, specialty experiences, and events. Part 3: Improve technology on the Discovery: a 36-foot “floating field lab” that can accommodate 30 passengers on a 1.5-hour tour of the Indian River Lagoon. It includes a novel technology system that allows guests to interact with real-time data, use scientific tools, and experience an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle. The Discovery is one-of-a-kind, making it a teaching and learning asset to the 1,000 community members that have already climbed aboard. The granted funds will help our students share science through already established avenues by providing all the technology needed to tackle any project that comes their way. To learn more about our outreach programs, visit fau.edu/hboi/discover

Facilities

None.

Hardware Requirements

Hardware will be needed for all parts of the proposal. These include a new projector, projector screen and accessories, new video recording equipment, portable presentation screens, microscopes, and related accessories. The full supplies list is attached to this proposal.

Software Requirements

All software needed for our students to accomplish the above tasks are already available through the University or online for free.

Personnel Costs

No personnel time is needed as the requested materials will support the ongoing student powered programs that the Outreach Team oversees.

Other Costs

None.

Timeline

The funds will be used to purchase the proposed materials in the spring semester of fiscal year 24 so that students in the following summer and fall semesters can access them.

Sustainability

Beyond the scope of this project, outreach staff will be trained in how to use these new materials (so that they can train future students on proper use) and will continue to pursue new funding to support programming around them.

Resource Matching

FAU Harbor Branch outreach programs are supported by grants, but technology upgrades are not available through our current funding as it is largely used to fund personnel and student assistantships.

Implementing Organization

Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Outreach Department will implement the project.