ECOS Receives Grant Funding from Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back for Third Consecutive Year

For the third consecutive year, Florida Atlantic University’s School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) was named a recipient of the Palm Beach International Boat Show (PBIBS) Gives Back grant.

The $10,000 grant will be used for competitive graduate student awards that directly fund impactful environmental research and community outreach support.

Michelle Petersen, Ph.D. assistant research professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and director of the Environmental Science Program within ECOS, and Marianne Porter, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and co-director, Marine Science and Oceanography Master’s Program, received the award during the Palm Beach County International Boat Show Gives Back event on Jan. 21.

“The funding directly strengthens ECOS’s two interdisciplinary master’s degree programs: Environmental Science [ES] and Marine Science and Oceanography [MSO], especially in areas such as conservation, wildlife and land/waterways preservation,” said Petersen. “These programs prepare graduate students to address complex environmental and coastal challenges through hands-on, research-driven learning that creates new data and findings for policymakers.”

The awards support student research projects that are already underway or well-developed. PBIBS funds may be used for research supplies and equipment, data analysis, research-related travel within Florida, conference travel, as well as publication costs.

“By covering essential research expenses, the grant enables students to complete high-quality projects in a timely manner and make meaningful progress toward their degrees,” noted Petersen.

Award recipients are also required to submit a final written report, present a seminar in Fall 2026 at FAU Lab Schools, and, if still enrolled in Spring 2027, present at the ECOS ES/MSO retreat. Together, these requirements ensure that student research is shared with academic, professional and community audiences.

“Presenting and sharing research is a critical part of graduate education because it strengthens students’ scientific communication skills, builds professional networks and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration,” stated Porter. “It also increases public awareness about important environmental and marine science issues. Sharing findings aligns with the mission of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Inc., to promote education and environmental stewardship. Because PBIBS funding supports projects that impact the waterfront and broader community, disseminating research helps ensure that new knowledge can inform sustainable marine industry practices and sound environmental decision-making.”

ECOS has previously received support through the Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back grant program, with funding awarded in both 2024 and 2025.

The funding was made possible through the International Boat Show, owned by the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Inc. (MIAPBC), the not-for-profit organization that produces the Palm Beach International Boat Show. Through its PBIBS Gives Back Program, MIAPBC provides competitive grant funding to local organizations for educational and waterfront-related initiatives that benefit the community and environment.

“This continued investment reflects an ongoing partnership and sustained commitment to supporting graduate student research and community-focused environmental initiatives,” expressed Porter.