W
orking together is better than working alone, which is why community and municipal partnerships are a key endeavor within the College of Arts, Sciences & Education. In 2016, the School of Environment, Arts and Society (SEAS) added to a growing list of community partners, including Deering Estate and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Reserve. The Deering Estate, a 450-plus-acre preserve along Biscayne Bay, is home to marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats, archaeological sites and cultural collections. It has become a living laboratory for FIU conservation scientists. The FIUDeering Cultural Ecological Field Station Fellowship Program was launched to support graduate students whose research in ecology, environmental science and policy, and the liberal arts will benefit conservation efforts at the estate and in the region.
Community
collaborations
In southwest Florida, the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Reserve is home to many threatened and endangered animals, and it is one of the few remaining undisturbed mangrove estuaries in North America. FIU and Rookery Bay have created joint staff positions to advance the environmental understanding needed to manage the reserve’s 110,000 acres. A joint support facility in Naples, Fla. is being planned to attract new research and create education programs for local students.
Expanding outreach and engagement through partnerships
Through partnerships, SEAS is making collaboration and access to information and facilities possible for those who want to impact their communities. Because greater awareness leads to more informed decision-making and leadership, these partnerships help ensure the long-term well-being of South Florida’s natural resources.
At FIU, faculty, staff and students work closely with our partners addressing the relevant issues of our time. Focused on student learning, innovation, and collaboration, it is our belief that uniting the people and organizations that are working to make a difference significantly strengthens both our impact and the communities we serve. To learn more about how you can get involved, contact givetocase@fiu.edu | 305-348-4349.
Aerial view of Deering Estate
Students take water samples at Deering Estate as part of the school’s Florida Coastal Everglades Schoolyard Program.