In its second year, the Marine Technology Society (MTS) EMERGE (Emerging Leaders in Marine Technology) program provided critical support for promising ocean professionals to attend the OCEANS Gulf Coast 2023 Conference. This year, the program expanded to 14 participants and included attendees from all backgrounds: community college students, early career professionals, graduate students, and undergraduate students.
The EMERGE program offers valuable support to students and early career ocean professionals attending the OCEANS Conference. At the conference, participants access networking opportunities and professional skill development events, allowing them to fully engage in the conference experience.
Stephan O’Brien from University of South Florida stated, “The EMERGE program met all my expectations. My mentor introduced me to other researchers in my field of research and provided numerous networking opportunities at the conference.”
A core component of the EMERGE Program is the pairing of each participant with a seasoned mentor. EMERGE Mentors, as dedicated volunteers, play a pivotal role in guiding participants throughout the conference, encouraging particular topics of interest, and facilitating the expansion of their professional networks.
Rick Cole, RDSea International, is a longtime MTS member and first time EMERGE mentor. He stated "Being part of the EMERGE program is a true privilege. Guiding these young professionals, witnessing their enthusiasm, and helping them build connections has been incredibly rewarding. It's about passing on the torch of knowledge."
EMERGE reflects MTS's dedication to supporting future generations of ocean professionals. The next EMERGE opportunity will take place at OCEANS Halifax 2024. Be sure to become an MTS member so you can apply when applications open in early 2024. Click here to visit the website.
Congratulations to the EMERGE 2023 Participants:
- Brandon Acker, Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
- Adebowale Adedoyin, University of Southern Mississippi
- Cailin Burmaster, Open Ocean Robotics
- Sidney Dills, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC)
- Matt Gospodinovich, MGCCC Unmanned Maritime Systems Program
- Stanton Ladner, NOAA National Data Buoy Center
- Amy Moody, NOAA National Data Buoy Center
- Charles Morrison IV, Texas A&M Galveston
- Stephan O'Brien, University of South Florida
- Marta Palacios, CICIMAR, Mobula Conservation
- Erika Pineo, The University of British Columbia
- Jonathan Weaver, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
- Jacob Wilson, Northwestern Michigan College
Thank you to the EMERGE 2023 Mentors:
- Lisa Clough, National Science Foundation
- Rick Cole, RDSEA International, Inc.
- Liz Creed, IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society
- Richard (Dick) Crout, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
- Tanya Lush, COVE
- Travis Miles, Rutgers
- Amanda Netburn, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Ruth Perry, Shell
- Millicent Pitts, Ocean Exchange
- Jake Sobin, Kongsberg
- Hank Statscewich, University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Hans Van Sumeran, Northwestern Michigan College
- Jill Zande, Marine Technology Society
- Andy Ziegwied, Open Ocean Robotics