NSU has built the nation’s largest coral reef research center — an 86,000-square-foot facility that cost $50 million to build.
The Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Research is located at NSU’s Oceanographic Center at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park in Hollywood, Fla. The facility will celebrate its grand opening on Sept. 27.
After winning a nationwide competition, NSU earned the highest grant of $15 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In addition to this amount, the largest grant NSU has ever earned, the school raised $35 million to build the center solely dedicated to coral reef ecosystems research and conservation — Florida is home to 84% of the nation’s reefs.
In a press release, President George Hanbury II said, “By opening this state-of-the-art facility, NSU is taking a leadership role in Florida’s marine science research and helping boost an important multibillion-dollar coral industry that employs thousands of South Floridians and sustains many small businesses. The research center is critical for the environmental sustainability of coral reefs, which are the life blood of our region and oceans, and their ecosystems.”
Before the facility has even opened its doors, the center has already contributed to the local economy. It has preserved 22 academic jobs and added 22 more, created 300 construction jobs and will employ 50 graduate students.
South Florida’s abundant coral reefs contribute $6 billion to the local economy, and account for at least 71,000 jobs in hospitality, public sector, and scientific fields.
The center’s main goals are to assess the health of coral reefs; treat the habitats of damage; examine climate change and its effects; cultivate nurseries; map the nature of international reefs; study water flow and coral growth in order to efficiently reconstruct the habitats; study the biology of reefs; look closely into the negative effects of external natural and unnatural stressors; and achieve a greater understanding of how reefs respond to threats.
Major threats to the oceans are pollution, acidification, rising sea temperatures, overfishing, and development. NSU plans to help ocean life by mitigating these local threats. Studies show 25-30% of the world’s reefs are severely damaged. NSU built this center in recognition of the tremendous value of coral reefs in the United States.
The center will house laboratories, feature research collaboration, training, fieldwork staging, a marine science library, and an 85-seat auditorium.
Alumnus Sarah Mohamed, environmental science major, said, “I am beyond proud of NSU. Having studied the environment for years, I must say action to preserve wildlife is necessary. From excessive pollution and other stressors, we are seriously damaging our Earth.”
