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WALTER MUNK SCHOLAR AWARDThe Walter Munk Scholar Award is jointly sponsored by the Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans (WMFO) and MTS. The award is presented to a scholar currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral program and recognized outstanding contributions in areas fostered by the sponsoring organizations. Established in 2019, the award honors Walter Munk's legacy of daring exploration and discovery through ocean scientific and technology research, ocean education, and ocean conservation. 2026 RECIPIENT - Dr. Caroline GiniDr. Caroline Gini obtained a Ph.D. in Marine Geology and Underwater Acoustics in 2025 from Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada) and is currently a Seafloor Exploration Geologist with Wetstone. She is an expert on seafloor exploration and hydrothermal vents using a suite of deep-sea underwater vehicles and both acoustic and optical technologies. She has participated in twelve international research cruises in the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, leading seafloor exploration operations using remotely-operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and diving to 4800 m depth in the Nautile human-occupied vehicle. She holds a B.Sc. in Geology from the Université de Lausanne (Switzerland, 2015) and a M.Sc. in Geology at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (France, 2017). During her PhD, she evaluated the use of a new high-resolution sonar technology as a new tool for seafloor mapping and imaging: the interferometric synthetic aperture sonar (InSAS). Through collaborations with industry partners and as a Mitacs Accelerate Fellow, she tested InSAS and other sonars at mid-ocean ridges and provided strategies for their effective application to improve knowledge on deep-sea environments, such as those hosting hydrothermal vents. Passionate about deep-ocean exploration, she actively shares her experience and knowledge with wider audiences through outreach events, appearing in documentaries, and university lectures. 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. PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS OF THE WALTER MUNK SCHOLAR AWARD
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