September 2022
October 2022
Dear Link Foundation Friends:
It’s hard to believe that another year is behind us. While the Link Foundation Board chose to meet via Zoom again this past year, we are happily making plans for our first in-person board meeting since 2019. We are delighted that Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) at Florida Atlantic University will host our March 2023 board meeting, further highlighting their long-standing historical relationship with Edwin A. and Marion C. Link, Marilyn C. Link, and the Link Foundation.
There have been amazing scientific advancements over the past two years, but advances in energy resources development and conservation remain a global priority to combat climate change and energy shortages. The Link Foundation’s Energy Fellowship program is at the forefront of this priority. This year, fellowships for PhD students funded research projects such as the evaluation of the potential for urban solar-plus-battery hybrids to replace polluting power plants from an economic, emissions and equity perspective; assessing issues to improve batteries for transport electrification; exploring ammonia fuel synthesis through plasmon-assisted electrocatalysis; and, examining carbon-negative bio-hydrogen recovery with inherent carbon removal through mineralization.
The Link Foundation’s other fellowship programs also awarded grants to fund groundbreaking research. Grants in our Modeling, Simulation and Training Fellowship program funded PhD student research projects in human-autonomy teaming in space exploration; haptic feedback in surgical robotics in simulated and virtual environments; and intelligent driving assistance. The Ocean Engineering and Instrumentation Fellowship program awarded grants to fund PhD student research for projects exploring oceans and/or coastal ecosystems using innovative technologies such as wave energy converters, autonomous underwater vehicles, sonar, virtual reality and robotics. Additionally, the Link Foundation continues to support the Summer Intern program at HBOI for undergraduate students, as well as graduate research fellowships at the Smithsonian Marine Station.
While the world faces significant challenges on a variety of social, political and economic fronts, the research of these young scholars provides reassurance that the next generation of scientific breakthroughs are well underway. Over the last 69 years, the Link Foundation has awarded over $19 million in educational funding to support worthy programs consistent with our mission, and we look forward to continuing the scientific and educational mission that was so important to the Link family.
The Link Foundation is proud to be a part of the scientific potential that ensures a bright future for our world. Please be well, and we look forward to a productive year of scientific discovery and application.
Sincerely,
Shelley D. Dionne, Ph.D.
Chair of the Board of Trustees and Special Advisors
The Link Foundation