Heading into the heat of summer means a lot of exciting OECI activities are going on. Students from Tuskegee University and Jackson State University are participating in OECI research at USM; Ocean Exploration Trust is on its way to American Samoa for two exciting expeditions that will involve personnel and vehicles from UNH, WHOI, and URI; OECI is presenting at the National Marine Educators Association meeting; and OECI partners are preparing for an upcoming series of NOAA Science Seminars. This partial list helps emphasize the importance of collaboration in helping support NOAA’s priorities for ocean exploration and beyond. I offer my thanks to all of OECI and its partners for bringing their creativity and expertise to this effort and for continually meeting the challenges of pushing the boundaries of ocean exploration!

Deepest Regards,

Adam

Gulf of Maine Exploration

From May 30 to June 9, NOAA and partners spearheaded a research expedition east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to gather data to support informed decision-making about offshore wind energy leasing. The collaborative expedition was led by NOAA’s Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI), in partnership with NOAA Ocean Exploration and the Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, and funded by NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping.

The figure above shows leases blocks in the Gulf of Maine where the mapping expedition team gathered baseline data in time for upcoming offshore wind leases sale decisions. Figure courtesy of NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.

Read more about the expedition here:

https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/research-expedition-explores-gulf-of-maine-near-proposed-offshore-wind-energy-lease-areas/

Mesophotic Deep Benthic Communities Live Streams!

This month, scientists, engineers, divers, and other collaborators embarked on the C-Innovation M/V Island Intervention as part of the restoration of Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities in the Gulf of Mexico. The mission uses both remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and saturation divers from the Navy Experimental Diving Unit Saturation Detachment (NEDU-NSD) to conduct surveys, collect coral and sediment samples, install mooring buoys to protect the seafloor, remove marine debris, and more.

Throughout the mission, URI's Inner Space Center is creating public livestreams that will offer an unprecedented opportunity to see restoration efforts in real time. These free YouTube programs cover a range of topics, from lionfish to life onboard. They have already celebrated several successful livestreams, but there is still time to tune in! See the upcoming events below and check out additional Gulf of Mexico livestreams on the Inner Space Center's Youtube (link below).

Monday, 8/5 at 6 pm EDT: Girl power! 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1PyeQVvaPYTmz9p3bUSvOzogvdUXVd44

Discovering The Mysteries of the Deep Pacific With Everyone

Ocean Exploration Trust Chief Scientist Daniel Wagner discussed Community Based Exploration with NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries on June 27, 2024, and the webinar recording is now available! Daniel reviewed science objectives, expedition plans, and provides information on how everyone can participate from shore via telepresence technology.

https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/webinar-series-archives.html

The FY26 Brennan Matching Fund opportunity is now open and invites non-Federal entities to partner with the ocean and coastal mapping programs of NOAA's National Ocean Service on jointly-funded projects of mutual interest, and establishes selection criteria and submission requirements for such projects under the NOAA Rear Admiral Richard T. Brennan Ocean Mapping Fund program.

August 1, 2024: Informational Webinar at 1 p.m. ET. To participate, please register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8298435806847389269  

FRN: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/06/18/2024-13387/notice-of-matching-fund-opportunity-for-ocean-and-coastal-mapping-and-request-for-partnership

September 13, 2024: Virtual office hours between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. by emailing iwgocm.staff@noaa.gov.

October 11, 2024 by 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET): All application materials due to iwgocm.staff@noaa.gov.

Funding Solicitation

The National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium intends to run a competitive solicitation titled “Solicitation 4.0 – Innovations in Floating Offshore Wind,” with a funding pool of $10.6 million. Find more information here:

https://nationaloffshorewind.org/solicitations/

Hydrographic Services Review Panel

The solicitation period for new Hydrographic Services Review Panel members is now open!



https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/06/03/2024-12106/hydrographic-services-review-panel

2025 is a "bye" year, so the closing date for this solicitation is February 21, 2025 with new members, if selected, starting their four year term on January 1, 2026.

Please see the linked Federal Register Notice above for more information and please share broadly! We are looking for an array of experts in the disciplines related to hydrographic data and services, marine transportation, port administration, vessel pilotage, coastal and fishery management, and others from all regions of the country.

Schmidt Ocean Institute Expression of Interest

Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) is soliciting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for collaborative, multidisciplinary research at any time and for any location and year identified as an area of operation for R/V Falkor (too). EOIs and full proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed twice per year. Investigators may request R/V Falkor (too)’s full berthing allotment for science in an EOI or may be partnered with additional projects at the full proposal stage to maximize the use of the vessel.

Find submission details here! The deadline for submission is September 30, 2024.