As summer turns to fall, OECI is making a final push to wrap up field operations on a high note. This includes mapping operations on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, ROV operations on E/V Nautilus, and ROV operations on NOAA Ship Nancy Foster (see below). At the same time, many are working to interpret and synthesize newly collected data for presentations at winter meetings. One of the exciting aspects of all these activities is a strengthening partnership between OECI partners and NOAA partners. This includes long-lived partnerships and new ones, as well. The result is fantastic exploration activities and outcomes that would be hard to achieve without this collaboration. Thanks to you all for making OECI so successful!

Deepest Regards,

Adam

Hudson Canyon Live!

Join the Global Explorer ROV and the scientists onboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster as they explore Hudson Canyon! Canyons are home to a wide range of habitats due to the variations in hydrodynamics and topography. This expedition is being conducted as a partnership between NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, and the University of Southern Mississippi and will explore the biology, geology, and ecology of the canyon. Using an ROV from Oceaneering, live footage will be shared daily during the expedition (September 15th - September 25th) and can be viewed on the Inner Space Center Youtube Channel. 

Science Webinar: Deep-Sea Habitats of the Cook Islands

From October 1-21, E/V Nautilus will conduct an expedition that will utilize the ship's ROV, mapping, and telepresence systems to map and characterize deep-sea habitats in the Cook Islands, with a focus on abyssal plain habitats and the Manihiki Plateau. We will host a webinar on September 18 at 3 pm ET that will provide an overview of the science objectives of the expedition. We encourage researchers from all disciplines and career levels to attend this webinar and learn how to participate in our upcoming expedition as scientists ashore. This expedition is supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, and implemented in partnership with the Ocean Exploration Trust and the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority. Register for the webinar. 

PlayStation Internship for Bridge to Ocean Exploration (B2OE) Alum

Nathan Lannon, a 2023 B2OE Alum, spent the summer in Aliso Viejo, California, as a Software Engineer Intern with PlayStation's Core Engineering Team. The experience Nathan gained while working on the Real Time Underwater Immersion (RUMI) project during his B2OE internship helped secure the exciting summer internship. 

When asked about his summer internship, Nathan explained, “I worked on the tools PlayStation uses to measure and improve cloud streaming latency, applied them in real game testing, and reported findings in platform reviews.” The new skills he learned during this internship are already being put to good use. Nathan is back at URI working as the lead developer on the RUMI project. 

During Nathan’s road trip from California back home to Rhode Island, he was able to visit 11 National Parks and covered ~4,000 miles. This speaks to the importance of not only the skills (technical and soft) learned during internships and experiential learning programs, but also to the opportunities that arise for students to connect with new people and nature along the way. See pictures from Nathan’s adventure below! 

Brennan Ocean Mapping Fund FY27

On June 17, 2025, the FY27 Brennan Ocean Mapping Fund opportunity was released in the Federal Register. The notice 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. With this funding opportunity and subject to the availability of funds, NOAA will match selected non-Federal partners at a 70:30/NOAA:Partner ratio for projects proposing to contract for ocean, coastal, and/or Great Lakes mapping data, totaling up to $1,000,000 per project.  

All application materials due to iwgocm.staff@noaa.gov by Friday, October 10, 2025, at 5pm ET.

Federal Registry Notice

One Page Summary

Call for input: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer 2026 Proposed Pacific Island Operating Areas

As part of the community-driven exploration model, NOAA Ocean Exploration invites you to view the proposed operational areas for 2026 and submit recommendations for acoustic mapping and exploration operations on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in the Pacific Islands. Please submit any recommendations by October 15, 2025. 

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