The Ocean remains one of the least understood frontiers on our planet, yet their health is critical to the well-being of ecosystems and societies worldwide. The OCEANS 2022 conference brought together leading experts to discuss the urgent need to explore, understand, and protect our oceans using technology, collaboration, and innovation. This panel highlighted the latest advances, ongoing challenges, and the essential partnerships shaping the future of ocean exploration. Ongoing and accelerating changes in the world's seas, especially due to climate change, make it more urgent than ever to understand these environments. Such understanding is essential to drive the development and implementation of new technologies for the care and preservation of the ocean.

 

Keynote Presentation by Jeremy Weirich: Technology and Talent for Ocean Exploration
The session began with a presentation by Jeremy Weirich, Director of Ocean Exploration at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He highlighted collaborative projects with various universities focused on mapping, characterization, and exploration, leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Weirich also stressed the importance of supporting early-career professionals through scholarships, internships, and opportunities to join expeditions—experiences that are invaluable for both enriching careers and deepening understanding of ocean data collection, processing, and dissemination.

Moderator’s Introduction: A Call to Action for Ocean Stewardship
Following Weirich’s presentation, the panel moderator, Dr. Sarah Kapnick, NOAA’s Chief Scientist, delivered opening remarks on the necessity of protecting the oceans from surface to seabed. She underscored that this responsibility should be a priority for both governments and companies that rely on marine resources. Dr. Kapnick then introduced the panelists:

- Dr. Adam Soule – Professor, University of Rhode Island
​- Miss Tosca Lichtenheld – Sofar Ocean
​- Dr. Kakani Katija – Principal Engineer, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
​- Captain (Ret.) Brian Connon – Vice President, Ocean Mapping, Saildrone Inc.
​- Jeremy Weirich – Director, NOAA Ocean Exploration

Industry Partnerships Fueling Innovation

The discussion began with the question: “What non-federal actions have had the greatest impact on ocean exploration to date?”

Dr. Adam Soule observed that the oil and gas industries, in collaboration with various companies, have created a new ecosystem integrating emerging technologies and fostering partnerships with universities and research centers. Initiatives such as the development and deployment of ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and UAVs exemplify these advancements.

Tosca Lichtenheld added that ocean exploration remains a challenging endeavor, requiring more affordable hardware, such as sensors and smart data acquisition systems, to monitor sea conditions effectively.

The panel then addressed: “What are the main challenges for community collaboration in ocean exploration?” Captain Brian Connon responded that ocean mapping and exploration require substantial resources and that effective collaboration hinges on aligning the research goals of diverse stakeholders. He also emphasized the need to enhance data collection autonomy and efficiency through machine learning. The panelists collectively agreed that establishing interoperability standards for devices would greatly facilitate more efficient and collaborative ocean exploration.

Panel Discussion: Investing in the Future of Ocean Innovation

Next, the moderator asked: “What investments are necessary to strengthen ocean innovation across academia, industry, and government?”

Tosca Lichtenheld highlighted the importance of maturing technologies through government-industry partnerships, helping to transition prototypes into widely usable products, with governmental support driving research in areas of national interest. Dr. Adam Soule concurred, noting that such collaborations can significantly accelerate the transition from prototype to operational products, fostering institutional cooperation and advancing ocean exploration knowledge. Dr. Kakani Katija further pointed out that accelerator programs can address real-world problems and reduce research timelines. Brian Connon added that these strategies could provide new perspectives for research and development in both governmental and corporate sectors, furthering our understanding of ocean dynamics.

The panel ended with the conclusion that Ocean exploration is a task that can be accomplished by working as a team with entities from government, industry, and academia. The use of technologies in robotics and computer science can contribute to this goal. However, it is necessary to establish clear and achievable objectives for all interested parties. It is also necessary to establish standards that allow the sending and receiving of data from the oceans to be clear and easy to implement in different devices. In addition, joint work between the government and private companies would allow real solutions to be achieved to the challenges of ocean exploration.