MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT - MARCH 2024
MTS Takes Center Stage at Oceanology International 2024
MTS had a major presence at Oceanology International (Oi) 2024, hosting several high-profile sessions and maintaining a booth throughout the conference.
The conference kicked off on a celebratory note, honoring the life and legacy of Captain Don Walsh, a pioneer in deep-sea exploration. Directly following, MTS and SUT awarded Professor Peter Girguis with the prestigious Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the field.
MTS offerings at Oi included:
- The MTS Ocean Enterprise Initiative hosted two sessions: a facilitated dialogue to identify the highest priority standards needed by the marine technology community and a curated gathering of industry leaders, public sector experts, and government representatives to discuss the current state of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) technologies.
- Representatives from MTS, the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and NOAA presented the newly released "Dialogues with Industry Roadmap" in the Oceans Theatre. The Roadmap focuses on maturing the Ocean Enterprise to deliver essential society, economic, and environmental benefits.
- Led by Andy Ziegwied and the Uncrewed Maritime Systems (UMS) Committee, MTS launched the Marine Robotics Forum. This gathering of UMS vendors will identify common challenges facing the industry so MTS can advance relevant solutions.
In addition to these major sessions, MTS leadership led and moderated several other discussions during the conference and the MTS booth served as a hub for engaging with our members and other attendees throughout the conference. I was honored to present some thoughts on the future of marine robotics at the associated Catch the Next Wave event.
MTS's substantial presence and leadership at this premier ocean technology event underscores our unique value to cross-sector collaboration across the marine technology community.
Upcoming Marine Technology Events: OCEANS Singapore and Beyond
The coming months are packed with diverse engaging events for the marine technology community. One of the standout events is the OCEANS Singapore conference, taking place next month (April 14-18). This flagship event, brought to you through the collaborative efforts of MTS and IEEE OES, provides an opportunity to network with peers, gain insights from expert technical presentations, and explore cutting-edge marine and maritime products showcased in the exhibit hall. I am looking forward to attending and excited to connect with our members and the wider ocean tech ecosystem.
This spring/summer, MTS will be hosting and participating in multiple conferences, workshops, webinars, and student events showcasing the latest research, technology innovations, and professional development opportunities across the marine technology domain. Whether your interests lie in student competitions, unmanned vehicles, buoy technology, offshore energy, or exploring leadership in diversity in marine sciences, there are exciting opportunities on the books. Check out the MTS Events Calendar for more details and to get involved.
MTS Launches New Committee
This month, MTS launched the Marine Environmental DNA (eDNA) Technology Professional Committee. Given the increasing relevance of this technology in marine science and its potential applications in various sectors, including fisheries management, conservation, and environmental monitoring, a dedicated committee within MTS is a timely offering.
This Committee will foster collaboration among professionals, researchers, and policymakers, and promote the development and deployment of eDNA technology. Led by Chris Scholin, President/CEO of MBARI, this committee will serve as a platform for disseminating knowledge, sharing best practices, and driving innovation in this rapidly evolving field.
To kickstart activities for the Committee, they will be hosting a Congressional briefing with partners in April. To learn more or get involved, visit the Committee page.
