Educational Tours AND SPECIALITY EXPERIENCES
FAU Harbor Branch offers a variety of educational tours so that the community can learn about the marine environment and the important research conducted by the Institute. For more information or to make a reservation please call 772.242.2293 or stop by our Ocean Discovery Visitors Center. Special group tours are also available.
Campus Tour
In 2021 we updated this offering with new stops and exclusive information! If you haven't been on a tour recently, we invite you to join us for this upgraded experience.
FAU Harbor Branch welcomes you to go behind the scenes with one of our outreach scientists to gain a greater understanding of the significant research conducted by the institute. During this 1.5-hour golf-cart tour, participants will explore our 144-acre waterfront campus, learn about our history, hear highlights of the cutting-edge research being conducted by our marine scientists and engineers, and discover the impact that our work has on their everyday lives. The experience will also include a photo-op in front of our iconic Johnson Sea Link deep-sea submersible as well as views of the Indian River Lagoon and Florida wildlife.
About FAU Harbor Branch: Founded in 1971 as a premier marine research facility, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is now the northern-most campus of Florida Atlantic University. Our team of over 300 scientists, engineers, students, staff, and volunteers work toward a goal of Ocean Science for a Better World®.
Offered daily, Tuesday through Saturday, at 10:30 a.m.
Reservations and payment are required in advance (must be made by 4 p.m. the day before).
Campus Tours are recommended for ages 5 and up.
Join the FAU Harbor Branch Benefactors Society and gain special access to our Discovery Passport and receive discounts on a variety of tour options.
Cost to attend: $25 per person
Specialty Experiences
New for 2023, this experience is like nothing you’ve done before at FAU Harbor Branch! We invite you to join us for this innovative opportunity!
Learn about specific marine science topics during interactive workshop-like experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to learn directly from one of our experts, and participate in fun, hands-on activities. Each month will feature a new theme, so check the schedule below to see what’s coming soon!
Specialty Experience Schedule
Thursday February 9th: What’s in the Water?
Learn about the most important part of our estuary- it’s water! Participants will analyze water samples and measure a variety of parameters, then explore real data collected from the FAU Harbor Branch Indian River Lagoon Observatory Network of Environmental Sensors (IRLON).
Thursday March 9th: Mesmerizing Marine Mammals
Learn about the dolphins, manatees, and whales that call Florida home- from their life histories and behaviors to challenges they face and how to protect them. Participants will get to meet members of the FAU Harbor Branch Stranding and Population Assessment team, tour their rescue ambulance, and learn how to become a Dolphin Spotter citizen scientist.
Thursday April 13th: Life Under a Lens
Learn about the microscopic ocean world and the important role plankton play in healthy marine ecosystems as well as our daily lives. Participants will use scientific equipment to capture and identify some of the tiniest creatures living in the Indian River Lagoon.
Thursday May 11th: Seashell Science
Learn about one of nature’s most unique pieces of architecture- the seashell! Participants will explore our extensive collection of marine shells, have the opportunity to identify their beach-combing finds, and discover a world of animals who build their house around them.
Thursday June 8th: Farming Underwater
Learn about the journey of sustainable seafood from the hatchery to your table! Participants will get an insider’s view of the aquaculture research taking place at FAU Harbor Branch and will learn why continued growth of the industry is vital to maintain the world’s food supply.
Thursday July 13th: Trash Travels
Learn about how today’s disregarded debris becomes tomorrow’s conservation calamity. Participants will look for synthetic materials, like microplastics, in water samples, and explore how small changes in our daily lives can keep the sea free of debris.
Offered on the second Thursday of the month at 1 p.m.
Tours are limited to 20 people. Reservations and payment are required in advance (must be made by 4 p.m. the day before).
Specialty experiences are recommended for ages 13 and up.
Join the FAU Harbor Branch Benefactors Society and gain special access to our Discovery Passport and receive discounts on a variety of tour options.
Cost to attend: $40 per person
Indian River Lagoon Research Boat Tours
Indian River Lagoon Research Boat tours are currently on hiatus. Please check back or call 772-242-2293 for updates.
Join us for a fun and educational 1.5-hour excursion aboard our new pontoon tour boat, the Discovery! During this experience, an FAU Harbor Branch outreach scientist will discuss the wildlife encountered as well as the research that the institute conducts to better understand and protect the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem.
About the Indian River Lagoon: Designated as an aquatic preserve and Estuary of National Significance, the Lagoon is one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America. Spanning from 156 miles along Florida's east coast, it is home to more than 2,100 different species of plants and more than 2,200 animal species, including 50 threatened or endangered species. FAU Harbor Branch research includes studies on harmful algal blooms, critical habitats like seagrass communities, the health and ecology of sharks, rays, manatees and dolphins, and real-time water quality information from the Indian River Lagoon Observatory Network.
Tours are limited to 30 people. Reservations and payment are required in advance (must be made by 4 pm the day before).
Indian River Lagoon Research Boat Tours are appropriate for all ages.
Join the FAU Harbor Branch Benefactors Society and gain special access to our Discovery Passport and receive discounts on a variety of tour options.
