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Walter Munk Scholar Commemorative Lecture
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Category: Virtual Event

Walter Munk Scholar Commemorative Lecture

Date: February 26, 2026
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST / 12:00 - 1:00 PM PST

Join us for a commemorative lecture from Alison Laferriere, who is the 2025 recipient of the Walter Munk Scholar Award from the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans. The Walter Munk Scholar Award recognizes outstanding achievements in ocean science and technology and honors Walter Munk's legacy of daring exploration and discovery.

About Alison Laferriere

Alison Laferriere is an ocean acoustics researcher specializing in signal processing for sensor systems and underwater acoustic applications. She holds S.M. and E.E. degrees in Electrical and Oceanographic Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). Her doctoral research focuses on developing novel signal processing techniques for acoustic vector sensors and hydrophone arrays that incorporate knowledge of the physics of sound propagation and the ocean environment. She aims to design methods that extract meaningful information from acoustic measurements, using sound as a tool to observe, measure, and ultimately understand environmental variability, ocean processes, and biological activity. 

Alongside her doctoral studies, Alison serves as a Scientist at Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS), where she designs, analyzes, and models ocean sensing systems for both research and defense applications. Her work at AOS includes the development of techniques for acoustic tomography and the design of networking protocols for distributed ocean sensors. Previously, as a Senior Scientist at Raytheon BBN, she led multiple research efforts in underwater acoustics and developed algorithms for high-precision positioning and environmental characterization using acoustic tomography. 

Alison values working at the intersection of academic research and applied technology, with the goal of advancing ocean sensing capabilities and deepening our understanding of the marine environment. 

Reserve your spot!