It is the time of year where our field operations ramp down, but our activity remains high with a focus on winter maintenance, education programs, outyear planning, and sharing results with the scientific community at national conferences. I want to especially shout out the team that helped to demobilize NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, including ROV Deep Discover; the excellent collaboration between OECI teams and NOAA Corps led to an efficient and effective operation. This type of collaboration is emblematic of OECI, and I greatly appreciate all of the work that the OECI team does to make all of our projects a resounding success. Keep up the amazing work as we head into the busy winter season!

Deepest Regards,

Adam

Lake Erie Mapping

UNH’s exceptional mapping team recently road-tripped to Erie, PA, with their mobile remote operations center. The team was met by Chance Maritime and the LR30 uncrewed surface vessel. Together, they worked to map a portion of Lake Erie with a brand new multibeam from R2Sonic (serial number 001 - it doesn’t get newer than that)! This collaboration not only enabled high resolution mapping of the lakebed, including several shipwrecks, but it provided opportunities for technical demonstration, technical development, and outreach throughout the project. All of the mapping data collected contributes to the Lakebed 2030 initiative and was funded by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. Outreach activities during this project included an introductory video, a livestreamed event, and onsite interactions with over 600 students and locals.

Erie mapping team in the mobile control van.

OECI Grad Student Colloquium

Each month, the OECI hosts an internal colloquium. We use this time to share project updates, to tap into the collective brainpower of the entire CI, and to inevitably share a few laughs. Last month’s colloquium was a special treat because instead of the usual updates from project PIs (which are always fantastic), we got to hear from some of OECI’s graduate students. 

Jacob Tomer (URI) shared observations from recent surveys of Vailulu’u seamount and potential lava emplacement hypotheses, Kara Davis (USM) explained the intricacies of microbial life on shipwrecks in the Gulf of America, and Philip Yang (URI) discussed ocean landers and the vital data they collect over long periods of time. This special colloquium served as a happy reminder that the OECI is training the next wave of curious and compassionate ocean scientists, and that community can be extremely uplifting during tumultuous times. 

Hudson Canyon Live!

For two weeks in September, NOAA Ship Nancy Foster set out with a team of scientists to survey and document the rich biodiversity of Hudson Canyon. The Inner Space Center joined the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, who funded the expedition to capture the magic of science at sea and to share it with the public. 

The outreach planning efforts for this project were iterative and collaborative. Working group meetings brought together more than 80 scientists, educators, and community members to identify potential story telling themes prior to the expedition. These themes were used to create episodic live-streams throughout the expedition. If you missed these streams live, don’t worry! You can still view them on the Inner Space Center’s Youtube Channel. 

The production team onboard NOAA Ship Nancy Foster used a minimally invasive approach to collect content for these episodes. Pre-recorded interview segments were seamlessly integrated with live content to reduce the strain on the busy science party. Not only did this maximize the amount of content the production team was able to collect, but it also established positive working relationships onboard the ship, which is integral for mission success. 

Ocean Exploration Trust 2026 Call for Science Input

In 2026, E/V Nautilus will conduct several multidisciplinary expeditions to explore the deep sea in the Central and Western Pacific, with planned expeditions to the Hawaiian Islands, the Mariana Islands, Wake Atoll, and the Ryukyu Islands. We invite members of the science and resource management community, particularly from the geographies where expeditions will take place, to submit science priorities for these expeditions, including specific requests for seafloor mapping, remotely operated vehicle dives, physical samples, and technology integrations. Please provide your input by February 1, 2026. Information received will be used to develop expedition plans and opportunities for collaboration, which will be discussed during planning webinars held prior to expeditions.

The Ocean Exploration Trust plans to continue operating E/V Nautilus in the Western and Central Pacific for the next several years in partnership with NOAA Ocean Exploration, the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, and other partners. NOAA Ocean Exploration plans to conduct additional expeditions in this region using NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Priorities submitted through this call may therefore be shared with NOAA Ocean Exploration for coordinated expedition planning. 

Please help us share this call with your networks to ensure broad representation, and stay tuned to future communications from the Ocean Exploration Trust and NOAA Ocean Exploration for additional opportunities to provide input.

Submit Science Input

Ocean Exploration Trust's Science Communication Fellowship Applications are Open!

Applications for the 2026 Science Communication Fellowship are now open! The application link, eligibility requirements, and helpful information are found in our Application Packet. New Deadline: December 1, 2025