FORT PIERCE — FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute’s longstanding public lecture series now has a new name, after a generous planned gift from Vero Beach residents, John and Barbara Ferrera.
The local couple recently committed to making a $500,000 donation to the Institute, specifying that it would be an endowment to fund the lecture series. This is the first significant gift to the program, which has been in existence for 20 years.
“We don’t realize what a difference we can make until we sit down and plan and really think about it,” said Barbara Ferrera. “Everyone has the capacity to help in some way.”
The Ferreras first came to the Treasure Coast in the late 1990s to visit family, and retired to Vero Beach in 2013. They have frequently attended Harbor Branch’s public lecture series and became fascinated with the Indian River Lagoon and medical uses from the sea.
Their planned gift will support bringing in speakers from across the nation, which in turn will foster collaborations with Harbor Branch researchers and help to educate the public on various areas of groundbreaking science.
The John and Barbara Ferrera Ocean Science Lecture Series officially kicks off on Jan. 10 at 4 p.m. with a presentation by Anton Post, Ph.D., FAU Harbor Branch Executive Director.
Free lectures will continue weekly each Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Johnson Education Center Auditorium, 5600 U.S. 1 North, Fort Pierce.
For more information, contact Carin Smith at 772-242-2230 or carinsmith@fau.edu, or visit www.fau.edu/hboi.
