image: Established in 1996, the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s Ocean Fund's mission is to support efforts to restore and maintain a healthy marine environment, minimize the impact of human activity on this environment, and promote awareness of ocean and coastal issues and respect for marine life. In the twelve years since its launch, the Ocean Fund has donated over $10 million on behalf of Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises, to several dozen organizations , including the University of Miami, that are working to protect the marine environment. view more
Credit: RCCL/Ocean Fund
MIAMI – University of Miami's (UM's) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science is pleased to announce they have received two grants totaling $101,000 from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd's Ocean Fund. One award for $51,000 will be used to re-energize and fully automate the scientific research program aboard Royal Caribbean International's Explorer of the Seas, the first-ever cruise ship outfitted with ocean and atmospheric science laboratories. State-of-the-art sensors throughout the vessel record valuable data that is helping scientists to better understand phenomena like the Gulf Stream, climate change, hurricane formation and the potential impacts of the ocean on human health.
The second Ocean Fund grant for $50,000 will be used to continue the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises Graduate Fellows program at the Rosenstiel School. To date, 12 incoming graduate students have been supported by the Ocean Fund through the program. The Ocean Fund's support of this program has enabled the Rosenstiel School to attract some of the brightest and most accomplished students in the world to conduct critical research in climate change, coral reefs, fisheries, hurricane and monsoon mechanics, ocean and atmospheric circulation, computer modeling, and ocean policy.
"We are grateful to the Ocean Fund for their leadership and stewardship in helping the scientific community to further explore our ocean resources," said Otis B. Brown, dean of UM's Rosenstiel School. "The support of the laboratories aboard their ship is efficiently providing information that would otherwise not exist because of the huge amounts of effort it would take to recreate."
"Providing opportunities for scientific research and education is fundamental to developing sound conservation strategies that will protect the world's oceans for future generations. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the Rosenstiel School, which has some of the foremost global experts in the marine sciences who are working on today's most pressing environmental issues," said Jamie Sweeting, vice president of Environmental Stewardship at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
"The highest priority at Rosenstiel is securing funding for our students' educational and research opportunities. Passion for conservation must be instilled in our students to ensure that future generations will continue to explore and enjoy our natural world and the Ocean Fund enables us to do so," said Dr. Brown.
About Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s Ocean Fund
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. established the Ocean Fund in 1996 to support marine conservation organizations in conserving the world's oceans. The mission of the Ocean Fund is to support efforts to restore and maintain a healthy marine environment, minimize the impact of human activity on this environment, and promote awareness of ocean and coastal issues and respect for marine life. In the twelve years since its launch, the Ocean Fund has donated over $10 million on behalf of Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises, to several dozen organizations around the world that are working to protect the marine environment.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisières de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin America and New Zealand.
About UM's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Founded in the 1940's, the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world's premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, please visit www.rsmas.miami.edu
Media Contacts:
Barbra Gonzalez, Communications Director
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
305.421.4704
barbgo@rsmas.miami.edu
Marie Guma-Diaz, Media Relations Officer
University of Miami
305.284.1601
m.gumadiaz@umiami.edu