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Ocean Discovery League Newsletter | December 2023
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Ahoy hoy!
As the year comes to a close, we are taking a moment to reflect on the last twelve months and all that we have achieved. Our work this year took us into the field multiple times, supporting low-cost ocean exploration in numerous areas of the world.
Some of our 2023 accomplishments include:
- Continued support of our low-cost imaging and sensing system, Maka Niu, in more than ten countries, including with new collaborators in the Quinault Indian Nation, Cameroon, and the Philippines. We also tested new Maka Niu deployment systems during the NOAA Ocean Exploration EXPRESS campaign aboard Okeanos Explorer.
- Participated in OceanX’s Young Explorer program aboard OceanXplorer, providing hands-on research and mentorship opportunities to 16 university students in storytelling, marine biology, and ocean exploration.
- Development of our Ocean Equity Program to identify, train, and support ocean explorers and researchers from historically excluded backgrounds to foster a global demographic and generational shift that will change how we understand and care for our oceans.
- Launched Ocean Exploration Day on January 23, 2023, with an online event featuring explorers Drs. Don Walsh and Dawn Wright, in celebration of the wonder of and need for deep-sea research and exploration.
- Released a new analysis of our 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment based on economic groups and small island developing states. This important foundational study underpins our work as we move toward a more equitable future of deep-sea exploration and research.
- Compiled a database of past deep-sea dives to examine exploration historical efforts, patterns, and future needs. Using this information, we initiated tools to enable representative exploration of the global deep seafloor.
- Continued our work with the Ocean Vision AI team to streamline access to artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to accelerate the analysis of ocean visual data.
We are very proud of how far we’ve come in just over two years of operation, and we look forward to exciting projects in 2024. Thank you for your continued support of our work, and please consider including ODL in your year-end giving plans.
We wish everyone a very happy and safe New Year!
Sincerely,
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Dr. Katy Croff Bell
Founder & President
Ocean Discovery League
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Low-Cost Sensors & Systems
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Throughout 2023, we continued the testing and research on our low-cost sensor prototype, Maka Niu, with 25 units deployed in fifteen locations. Fieldwork included research by the Quinault Indian Nation, biodiversity surveys in the Philippines and Cameroon, megafauna studies in Montserrat, and continued research in South Africa. Deployment testing occurred in Rhode Island and during an Okeanos Explorer expedition off California in December.
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What's Next? Deep-Ocean Research and Imaging System (DORIS):
Access to low-cost, deep-sea technologies is one of the primary barriers to deep-ocean exploration. We look forward to announcing an exciting funding opportunity to develop DORIS, our next-generation low-cost, deep-sea modular system. In preparation, we recently launched our co-design process and are excited to develop this enabling technology further.
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Community and Capacity Building
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ODL team members continued the development of our Ocean Equity Program to identify, train, and support ocean explorers and researchers from historically excluded backgrounds to foster a global demographic and generational shift in ocean exploration. In August, we participated in OceanX’s Young Explorer program aboard OceanXplorer, providing hands-on research and mentorship opportunities to 16 university students in storytelling, marine biology, and ocean exploration.
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What's Next? Ocean Equity Initiative
Our 2022 Capacity Assessment identified training as the most exciting opportunity for countries in all low, middle, and non-classified income groups assessed. Our Ocean Equity Initiative will offer multiple ways for people and communities at different readiness levels to engage and increase their ability to explore and discover the deep sea. In the summer of 2024, we will launch a pilot program to build sustainable infrastructure and environmental justice for deep-sea exploration and research worldwide.
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One of our core initiatives is accelerating ocean discovery by advancing AI-enabled underwater image and environmental data analysis. In 2023, we worked with Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) on Ocean Vision AI (OVAI), a comprehensive tool leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the processing of—and access to—ocean video and imagery as part of Phase II of this $5M NSF-funded Convergence Accelerator project.
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What's Next? Ocean Vision AI Portal
Ocean imaging is a powerful sensing modality, but it faces the massive challenge of disconnected data and inefficient analysis. In the summer of 2024, the OVAI Portal will launch, allowing scientists to dramatically accelerate the analysis of their ocean imagery with machine learning and artificial intelligence.
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Our mission is to accelerate deep ocean exploration by developing accessible systems to broaden the community of those who explore and understand the deep sea.
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ODL 2023 Publications Highlights
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In addition to having our work featured in several news outlets this year, we were excited to have multiple papers published.
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Seafloor Observation Scenario Exploration Tool
Developed by Dr. Kristen Johannes, this new interactive tool uses geospatial data to help with seafloor expedition planning and marine conservation action. We encourage the community to explore this work and how it may apply to expedition planning worldwide. Read Paper Here
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Thank You to Our Partners & Funders
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Our work, both above and below the water, is fueled by the support from several organizations and corporations who believe in our mission. We sincerely thank our donors, sponsors, and collaborators for their commitment to our mission.
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Consider ODL In Year-End Giving
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We believe that if more ocean explorers and researchers from around the world have the opportunity and ability to explore their own deep-sea ecosystems with tools and technology that are low-cost and easier to use, then we will dramatically accelerate the pace of ocean exploration in critical areas.
A donation to Ocean Discovery League funds:
- The next generation of low-cost sensor and system development.
- Ocean exploration training and capacity building programs.
- Platforms that make ocean data accessible and accelerate analysis.
Please consider supporting our work in your year-end giving plans. We couldn't do this without you!
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