Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
Encyclopedia
The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) is a recently endowed and developing research institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
. The HRI's vision is to provide international leadership in generating and disseminating knowledge about the Gulf of Mexico
ecosystem
and its critical role in the economies of the North American region.
ecosystem
, including the United States
, Mexico
, and Cuba
. It promotes excellence and innovation in interdisciplinary scientific research, public policy initiatives, and education of the public.
, philanthropist and former publisher of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times
, and the State of Texas provided an additional $18 million to build a facility to house HRI.
. The University currently serves more than 8,500 students. The university is a member of the Texas A&M University System
.
Mission
The Institute's mission is to support and advance the long-term sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. The HRI's vision is to provide international leadership in generating and disseminating knowledge about the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
and its critical role in the economies of the North American region.
Goal
HRI encourages a tri-national responsibility and approach to understanding the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
, including the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. It promotes excellence and innovation in interdisciplinary scientific research, public policy initiatives, and education of the public.
Endowment history
A $46 million endowment was given by Mr. Edward H. HarteEdward H. Harte
Edward Holmead Harte was an American newspaper executive, journalist, philanthropist, and conservationist. The son of Houston Harte, co-founder of the Harte-Hanks newspaper conglomerate, he had a decades long relationship with that organization...
, philanthropist and former publisher of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
The Corpus Christi Caller-Times is the newspaper of record for Corpus Christi, Texas.-Brief history:There has been a newspaper in Corpus Christi for almost as long as there has been a town. In 1883, the Caller was started in a frame building at 310 North Chaparral, now the site of Green's Jewelers....
, and the State of Texas provided an additional $18 million to build a facility to house HRI.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
The HRI's new state-of-the-art facility is located right at the front of campus at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). The university lies a 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) island just minutes from downtown Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
. The University currently serves more than 8,500 students. The university is a member of the Texas A&M University System
Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the United States. Through a statewide network of eleven universities, eight state agencies and a comprehensive health science center, the Texas A&M System educates over 100,000 students, conducts more than $600...
.
Facts
To date, a 30-member Advisory Council has been formed, planning meetings have been held in Corpus Christi, Houston, New Orleans, Sarasota, Washington, D.C., Havana, Monterrey, and Veracruz, and a 57000 square feet (5,295.5 m²) building has been built and occupied (November 2005). Early Gulf-wide collaborative and cooperative activities include:- GulfBase.org online research database
- State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit 2006 (Conference)
- Gulf exploration
HRI Research Programs
- Marine Policy & Law
- Biodiversity & Conservation
- Ecosystem Studies & Modeling
- Coastal and Marine Geospatial Sciences
- Ocean Health
- Socio-Economics