NSU Horizons Fall 2017

17 NSU HORIZONS NSU’S HALMOS COLLEGE AT THE OCEANOGRAPHIC CAMPUS Each of the onsite coral nurseries at the Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography’s (HCNSO) Oceanographic Campus survived, because researchers moved them inside the Guy Harvey Oceano- graphic Center building. Aside from debris and damage to one boat’s hull, the Oceanographic Campus came through without any major damages. “A wonderful effort was made by the NSU Office of Facilities Management and our staff to secure the buildings and boat basin in advance of the storm. Proper planning and advance action were critical,” said Richard Dodge, Ph.D., dean of HCNSO. The college’s offshore staghorn nursery structures survived; although, “many structures will need some work before we can attach new corals. But they are still there!” said David Gilliam, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences. “We have enough surviving corals to allow us to rebuild the nursery population, but that will take time. The storm set us back in terms of out-planting corals back to the natural reef. Our financial resources may also limit how quickly we can rebuild the nursery,” he said. As a precaution, the green sea turtle, Captain—the most prominent resident of NSU’s Marine Environ- mental Education Center (MEEC) at the Carpenter House—was moved to the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota. She stayed there for two weeks while her pool was stabilized at the MEEC, which is located at North Beach Park in Hollywood, Florida. NSU’s partnership with the Brow- ard County Sea Turtle Conservation Program again proved proactive. Although about 51 percent of the nests in Broward County were lost, NSU researchers quickly began reestablishing the nest perimeters of those that remained. That way, cities could resume maintaining the beaches without the risk of damaging sea turtle nests that may have lost their nest marker. PUERTO RICO REGIONAL CAMPUS Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. Last count showed 51 dead, buildings destroyed, and most of the island still without power months after the hurri- cane had hit. The island’s recovery efforts are still underway. The NSU campus in San Juan; however, had power restored in a little more than a week. Until classes resumed, the campus was opened during the day to its 770 students and faculty and staff members to use the amenities, the Internet, or recharge their cell phones. “We wanted to help them get back to normal as soon as possible,” said Brumley. The Office of Facilities Management has daily contact with the campus and is continuing to ship supplies there. “It is very satisfying to be able to help our Puerto Rico campus community,” said Alexander MacNa- mara, B.S., executive director, Office of Facilities Management. NSU donors Dr. Kiran C. Patel and Dr. Pallavi Patel were instrumental in bringing supplies to the Puerto Rico Regional Campus by donating the use of their private jet for three relief flights. Relatives of university staff members who had been stranded on the island were allowed to board the return flights to South Florida. In addition, the Patels donated telephones that could be used for satellite communications through Figgers Communication, a telecom- munications company based in Tallahassee. The relief flights were put together within 36 hours after the hurricane. “As a physician, a husband, a father—as a person— how could I not help?” said Dr. Kiran C. Patel. (See story on page 3.) NSU CARES The university has established the NSU CARES fund to help students and employees who are most in need of assistance because of the hurri- canes. To make a donation, text NSUCARES at 41444. To volunteer and provide assistance to those in need, email nsucares@nova.edu . n I continued from page 15