Bethune-Cookman University‘s Integrated Environmental Science department will be strengthened after the university joined the Florida Institute of Oceanography Consortium! Learn more about the new partnership in the official release from B-CU below.
Recently, Bethune-Cookman University was welcomed into the Florida Institute Of Oceanography Consortium. The Florida Institute of Oceangraphy, or FIO, consists of 32 members including state universities. The mission of FIO is to provide infrastructure support to facilitate collaborative research and education related to Florida’s coastal and ocean environment, and to serve as a coordinating body across academia, state and federal agencies, ocean science organizations and the private sector in addressing new opportunities and problems to be solved through research, education and outreach. FIO is an enabler, a facilitator and coordinator.
“The FIO membership, and its representative Council, is the bedrock of our organization. We are pleased to have Bethune-Cookman University and the Florida Ocean Alliance join our ranks as they greatly increase our reach to the breadth of what Florida’s ocean science and education community has to offer,” said FIO Director Dr. Monty Graham.
This membership will greatly enhance B-CU’s Integrated Environmental Science Department which focuses on large-scale coastal and watershed issues and challenges. B-CU is also leading the Halifax River Watershed Sustainability Initiative and is a member of the NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems.
“Bethune-Cookman University is honored to be invited to join the FIO community of marine researchers and educators in Florida who not only are helping us to assess and protect our wildlands and aquatic ecosystems, but also to prepare graduates to become change-driven scientists,” said Dr. Will Berry, Provost. “FIO will enable our students to collaborate with their peers at other institutions and prepare them to meet the growing need for talented professionals in ocean and coastal sciences. In addition, FIO will provide our faculty and students with linkages to the extensive weal of expert knowledge in the field throughout the state. This will help us to equip our students with a thorough understanding of oceangraphic and marine issues through classroom education combined with experiential learning in the field.”
