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Harbor Branch Summer Intern Program Celebrates 35 Years
Authored by Dr. M. Dennis Hanisak, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University
In 1974, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, then called Harbor Branch Foundation and only three years old at the time, began a summer internship program for college students, launched with funding from the Link Foundation. At the time, Ed Link, the inventor who had recently designed and built Harbor Branch's Johnson Sea Link manned submersibles, was Vice President of Harbor Branch, and Marilyn Link, Ed's sister, was Harbor Branch's first Managing Director. The idea of the intern program was to provide college students an opportunity to further their education and training, outside the traditional classroom setting, in a real world situation. Working with a mentor on the Harbor Branch staff, each intern developed a project that could be completed in a few weeks and then reported the results to the Harbor Branch community. During that first summer, ten students spent ten weeks working with mentors in the Marine Science and Engineering Divisions. Back in 1974, there were very few such intern opportunities for students interested in marine science or ocean engineering, and the summer intern program quickly became recognized as a successful one.
Over the next thirty-five years this education program, Harbor Branch's oldest, has continued and prospered and has become a special one to our scientists and engineers who are invigorated by the young talent of the interns each year. From 1974 to 2009, there have been 465 summer interns at Harbor Branch. These interns have come from over 150 universities and colleges from 35 states and 11 foreign countries. They have benefitted from over 100 mentors, all Harbor Branch staff members. The Link Foundation has supported about 63% of the interns. Another 11% have been funded by the Gertrude E. Skelly Charitable Foundation, which has been providing major support for interns in marine biomedical research since 1996. Most Harbor Branch interns go on to professional careers, with nearly half receiving an M.S. degree and about 1/6 earning a Ph.D.
The 35th anniversary of the Link Foundation-supported Harbor Branch Summer Intern Program was celebrated at Harbor Branch throughout the day on Wednesday, July 29, 2009. This special day was an opportunity to learn not only the results of the research projects conducted by the this year’s interns but also what some former summer interns have done as a result of this opportunity.
The day began with the Annual Summer Intern Symposium. This year’s 17 students (12 of them funded by the Link Foundation, see below) share a summary of their work at Harbor Branch with an audience of scientists, peers, and community members. Following the Symposium, a networking reception brought together current interns, past program alumni, mentors, sponsors, and interested community members.
The day’s festivities were capped off by an evening lecture, “An Opportunity to Develop Your Own Genius”: Celebrating 35 Years of Summer Interns at Harbor Branch. The main speakers were Dr. Andrew Clark, president and CEO of CSnet International, Inc., and Dr. M. Dennis Hanisak, Research Professor, Director of Harbor Branch’s Center for Marine Ecosystem Health and Director of Education. Clark is a 1979 alumnus of the intern program, and he continues to serve as one of the program’s top mentors as a member of the Link Foundation Board. Hanisak has 30 years of experience in marine biology and ecology and leads all educational activities at Harbor Branch, including the summer intern program.
The evening presentation discussed the history, activities, outcomes, and successes of the Link intern program and included short presentations by summer intern alumni who put a personal note on each of their intern experiences: Doug Briggs, who was a Link Foundation intern in 1967, and now is on the ocean engineering faculty at Florida Atlantic University; Mary Gregory, who was a summer intern at Harbor Branch for three years, 1995-1997, and is now the coordinator of the Marine and Oceanographic Academy, a marine science magnet high school program which was recently launched on the Harbor Branch campus; and Priscilla Winder, a 2001-2002 summer intern who, later this year, will complete her Ph.D. in Chemistry and Biochemistry at FAU under Dr. Amy Wright, her summer intern mentor. Three stories from three different generations of summer interns: all of them demonstrating what Ed Link meant when he said that being a summer intern at Harbor Branch is an "opportunity to develop your own genius." And, very appropriately, this special lecture was dedicated to Marilyn Link, who has mentored this program along since its inception.
2009 Interns with Link Foundation Special Advisors Jimmie Anne Haisley (far left) and Marilyn C. Link (far right)
List of 2009 Harbor Branch Summer Interns (and their home institutions) supported by the Link Foundation:
Joanna Ames, Florida Atlantic University
Robert Anderson, Florida Atlantic University
Robert Decarreau, Florida Institute of Technology
Corey DiBenedetto, Stevens Institute of Technology
Jennifer Giard, University of Rhode Island
Lindsay Harris, Florida Atlantic University
Natalie Harrison, Duke University
Karen Ladd, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Margaret McQuillan, University of Notre Dame
Lauren Nys, Florida Atlantic University
Serena Parton, Florida Atlantic University
Stephan Szymanski, Florida Atlantic University
For more information on the Harbor Branch Summer intern programs, including application material, see: http://www.fau.edu/hboi/education/internships/index.php.
ARINC to present award in honor of Edwin A. Link on October 5, 2009
ARINC’s (Aeronautical Radio Inc.) Flight Simulator Engineering and Maintenance Conference will take place in Cairo, Egypt, October 5-8, 2009. An annual award sponsored by the Flight Simulator Engineering and Maintenance Conference will be presented in honor of Edwin A. Link at the Opening Session of this Conference on October 5, 2009.
Over the past ten years, ARINC has presented awards in honor of Edwin A. Link to an outstanding member of the simulation community in recognition of their contributions of ideas, leadership and innovation which will benefit the simulation industry. The Edwin A. Link Award has become world-renowned as the simulation industry’s highest award for individual achievement.
Past recipients of this award are:
2008 – Andy Ramsden, Rockwell Collins
2007 – Joe Biller, L-3 Communications - Link Simulation and Training Division
2005 – Jim Guvernator, Southwest Airlines 2004 – Stuart N. Willmott, CAE SimuFlite
2003 – Dr. John Hunt, General Precision Corporation (formerly Link Aviation, Inc.)
2002 – Kendall W. Neville, The Boeing Company
2001 – Stuart Anderson, Evans & Sutherland
2000 – Joe Depaola, American Airlines
1999 – Wolf-Dieter Hass, Lufthansa Flight Training
For more information regarding this award, please visit http://www.aviation-ia.com/fsemc/upcoming/09LinkAwardRequest.pdf
The Royal Aeronautical Society’s Edwin A. Link Lecture – November 19, 2009
The Royal Aeronautical Society honors the memory of Edwin A. Link by establishing an annual lecture in his name. The first lecture was presented in London in 2007 and the second lecture took place on April 9, 2008 at the British Embassy in Washington, DC. Please see the announcement and article below regarding that lecture.
The third lecture is schedule to take place on November 19, 2009 at the British Embassy in Washington, DC, and will be sponsored by L-3 Link Simulation & Training. For more information regarding this lecture, please visit http://raeswashington.org/events/htm. The RAeS Flight Simulation group believes the Link Trainer represented a milestone in the history of Flight Simulation. Ed Link is generally recognized as the “father of simulation.”
It is expected that lectures will continue to be held in London and Washington, DC.
Washington Branch
The Link Lecture
In honor of Edwin Link
Inventor of the “Link Trainer”
Wednesday 9 April 2008
British Embassy Rotunda
By kind permission of the Ambassador
Sir Nigel Sheinwald
Reception 6 pm, Lecture 7 pm
A presentation entitled “The Link Legacy” will be made by:
Mr. Bruce Whitman
President and CEO of FlightSafety International
Reception generously sponsored by L-3 Communications
RAeS Washington Branch Lecture Meeting 9th April 2008. – “The Link Lecture”
The Washington Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society was pleased, and honored, to host the annual “Link Lecture” for 2008 at the British Embassy. The attendance at the meeting included representatives from: the Edwin Link Foundation, FlightSafety International, the RAeS Flight Simulation Group, and L-3 Communications. Unfortunately, Edwin Link’s sister, Marilyn, could not attend as originally planned due to a minor surgery. However, we were most pleased to see several Members and Trustees from the Link Foundation Board.
The meeting was opened by our Chairman, Barry Eccleston, who introduced the evening’s presenter, Mr. Bruce Whitman, the President and CEO of FlightSafety International. Bruce Whitman commenced his address by thanking Barry Eccleston for his kind introduction and then recognized two previous Link Presidents that he had known for over twenty years (John Forbes and Bill Turner) and other friends and associates of the Link family. He then went on to eulogize Edwin Link who had transformed flight safety and training world wide – saving many thousands of lives.
Edwin Link was born in 1904 and invented the aircraft simulator – known as the Blue Box – in his twenties. The mechanical design and air power derived from the knowledge gained from his father’s company which built pianos and pipe organs. Although funding was a particular challenge – it was the late twenties – his passion and enthusiasm kept his design progressing and production commenced in 1929. Interestingly enough, the original buyers of the Blue Box were the amusement parks. In order to gain a foothold in aviation training, Ed Link started the Link Flying School and in a few years he was demonstrating his trainer to the Army Air Corps. Business then flourished and with the advent of World War II thousands of pilots (from both ‘sides’) were trained on the Link Blue Box.
Bruce Whitman then talked to the personal connection between his Company, FlightSafety International, and Edwin Link’s Company. The founder of FlightSafety International was Al Ueltschi, another pioneer and entrepreneur, who sold hamburgers to pay for flying lessons and then went barnstorming around the Country. Later he joined Pan American flying in many jobs and aircraft types. Seeing that the aircraft/airline industry was growing strongly, Al had a vision to start professional training for pilots and he founded FlightSafety in 1951 and used Link Trainers for the basic training. Bruce Whitman then recounted that while he was in the Air Force Reserve in 1959 he met Al Ueltschi and in 1961 he was asked to join FlightSafety, which he did.
The Company flourished (in good measure thanks to the Link Trainers - or Translators as they were then called) and it was soon realized that type-specific trainers would be required. So designs reflecting specific aircraft were manufactured and these were controlled by analog computers and had hydraulic motion bases. Later, visual systems were introduced. By 1978, FlightSafety was the authorized training organization for fifteen aircraft manufacturers and with this growth it was decided to enter the simulator manufacturing business – to assure a dependable supply of flight simulators and training devices.
Bruce Whitman then spoke to the future noting that simulator design will continue to advance and become even more reflective of ‘the real thing.’ The expansion of the digital video industry has provided effective and economic technology for 360 degree visual systems; and computer modeling for simulation of three-dimensional terrain and the ability to simulate snow, dust or hailstorms. On the subject of the need for motion in simulators, our presenter talked to the two ‘camps’ on this subject, but also pointed to the recent concerns of commercial pilots getting into unusual altitude situations where the effects of ‘g’ force can cause severe disorientation. On a more global note, the progress of technology with realistic terrain, atmospheric and maritime environments, will permit pilots to fly world wide in the simulators with all the cues and information of the real world. And the point was made that simulators can now be linked and aircraft simulators can fly in formation, or approach simulated airports via simulated air traffic control systems. On the military side, all simulated weapon platforms, ships, radars, aircraft and missiles will be able to be linked to provide a verisimilitude of the real battle space for full multi-service training – which can then be replayed for debriefing.
Mr. Whitman stated that over 75,000 aviation professionals will be trained at FlightSafety International this year which will result in almost a million flight simulator hours world wide. The aircraft simulator is now the sine qua non of flight training – increasing realism, reducing actual flight hours, enhancing safety, and providing global flexibility - a true tribute to Edwin Link’s vision, pioneering spirit, and passion for aviation. We have a lot to thank him for.
On conclusion of the presentation, Stuart Matthews, past President of the Flight Safety Foundation, gave the vote of thanks, followed by a presentation of the ‘Blue Box’ Trophy by L-3 Communications Vice President Mr. Bob Birmingham. We should like to thank the UK Flight Simulation Group, represented by Barry Swainston, for initiating the Link Lectures, L-3 Communications for sponsoring the event, and the Ambassador, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, for the use of his Embassy.
Royal Aeronautical Society – The Link Lecture - April 9, 2008
Article written by William Turner, former Trustee and Special Advisor to the Link Foundation
The Link Lecture, presented in honor of Ed Link, was sponsored by the Washington Chapter of the Royal Aeronautical Society and given at the British Embassy Rotunda on April 9, 2008. Among the attendees were more than fifty members of the Society, their guests, and several members of The Link Foundation.
The prestigious RAS was formed in 1866 as a means of bringing together leadership and foresight within the aerospace community in England and around the world. The Society now numbers 17,000 members within 100 countries which are organized into 70 Branches. Each Branch is tasked to work locally in supporting and maintaining the highest professional standards within the aerospace disciplines, to provide a local forum for the exchange of ideas and to exert influence in the interest of aerospace development. The Link Lecture is an annual event in the United Kingdom, with this lecture being the first to be held by a local Branch.
The presenter was Mr. Bruce Whitman, President and CEO of Flight Safety International. Mr. Whitman gave an excellent review of the personal history of Ed Link, the many contributions he pioneered in the field of flight simulation and training plus the potential for the technology in the future. His recounting of the early days of aviation development were brought to light in the relationship of Ed’s development of the technology and Mr. Al Ueltschi’s development of the commercial use of simulators. A set of Link “Blue Boxes” located in the Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia Airport were the meager beginnings of Flight Safety International which is a dominate training business today.
Being a part of this prestigious and first time event recognizing the Link Legacy was very special.
Link Foundation appoints Michael E. Augustine as a Special Advisor – June 5, 2009
The Board of Trustees of the Link Foundation appointed Michael E. Augustine to its group of special advisors at its June 5, 2009 meeting. Augustine’s expertise in finance and his 22 years of experience in the operation of non-profit organizations will be an asset to the Foundation.
Michael is vice president and chief financial officer for the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies based in Port St. Lucie, FL. Augustine holds a B.S. degree from California University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology and is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant. He began his career as a staff accountant at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University. Prior to his current position, he served as vice president and chief financial officer for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and director of finance and administration for the West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing (WVNET), part of the state system of higher education that provides centralized information services to West Virginia state colleges and universities.