Florida Tech Facility Takes the Plunge

September 3, 2021 – A new $1.25 million marine research center is being built right on the edge of the water at the mouth of Melbourne Harbor. That makes it a perfect place for Florida Tech experts and students to get their hands wet in a practical way. The center will serve up to 140 undergraduates and 50 graduate students.

The Mertens Marine Center, named for the Florida Institute of Technology’s first marine biology instructor, Lawrence Mertins, will be home to those in the fields of ocean engineering, oceanography and environmental science.  Activities such as estuarian chemistry, estuarian biology and estuarian ecology will be part of the curriculum.

Florida Tech is instrumental in finding ways to improve the health of our local lagoon system, being home to the Indian River Lagoon Research Institute. This group studies muck dredging, lagoon inflows, nutrient loads and other aspects of this treasured natural resource.

The center is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Source: Florida Today