SPRINGING INTO ACTION: MTS EVENTS AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT BLOSSOM

The transition to boreal Spring each year brings with it a familiar flurry of activity and energy around us: blooming trees and flowers draw in pollinators and birds; we clean our gardens, garages, and yards in anticipation of growth and renewal; and, the smells of fresh cut grass, mulch beds, and outdoor grilling draw us outside. In the same vein, MTS is abuzz with activity and energy as we launch into the start of our large event calendar, kickstart the annual MATE ROV Competition through regional competitions, and celebrate the tail-end of the academic year for our students and faculty members. 

ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION IN DEEP SEA MINING

As part of the International Seabed Authority's expert scoping workshop "Charting Future Horizons: Harnessing Advanced Technologies for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the International Seabed," held on April 3-5, 2024, Alex Barnard from the MTS Marine Mineral Resources Committee presented, "Robotics and Automation in Deep Sea Mining," with co-authors Bramley Murton (National Oceanography Centre), Andrew Ziegwied (MTS's Uncrewed Maritime Systems Committee and Open Ocean Robotics), and Justin Manley (President of MTS). This presentation emerged from a collaboration between MTS's Marine Mineral Resources and Uncrewed Maritime Systems Committees, and the National Oceanography Centre. It highlighted the important role of advanced marine technology in seabed management and protection, emphasizing the need for mission-specific platforms and sensors for environmental and resource assessment. The content was organized into two modules: Environmental and Resource Assessment and Emerging Trends in Robotics. 

NOAA OCEAN-BASED CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACCELERATOR WEBINAR SERIES LAUNCHES IN APRIL 2024

The Department of Commerce and NOAA provided $3.9 million in awards to help small businesses improve climate resilience in communities across the nation through the Ocean-based Climate Resilience Accelerators program as part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, and in alignment with the National Climate Resilience Framework. Concurrently, the Marine Technology Society's Ocean Enterprise Initiative will host a webinar series, open to the public, for the recipients of these grants. This webinar series commences in April and will continue through July 2024. 

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. 

OCEANS CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 

MTS HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2024 OCEAN SCIENCES MEETING AND BEYOND: ACHIEVEMENTS, COLLABORATIONS, AND FUTURE INITIATIVES

A handful of MTS staff and board members have just returned from New Orleans after an exciting and engaging 2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting at the Morial Convention Center. MTS has not traditionally had a large presence at this meeting, but with our growing membership and expanding programs, we were excited to both exhibit and host a handful of sessions as an integral part of the official program.  

MARINE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY'S IMPACTFUL INITIATIVES AT THE OCEAN SCIENCES MEETING 2024

The Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) held in New Orleans the week of February 18-23 provided MTS with numerous occasions to engage with our members and connect with new colleagues who share an interest in our endeavors. 

Funding will bolster NOAA's efforts to support climate resilience through new and emerging technology

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $3.9 million in awards to help small businesses improve climate resilience in communities across the nation through the Ocean-based Climate Resilience Accelerators program as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, and in alignment with the National Climate Resilience Framework.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MTS Launches into 2024 - January Message from the President

Happy New Year! Kicking off 2024, MTS is well positioned with a clear vision for the future. Equipped with new innovative programs and a growing professional team, we are ready to engage new opportunities and deliver more value to our members. We are committed to enhance member experience and elevate the society’s impact on the marine technology industry. We believe that the collaborative efforts of our society can drive positive change and advance marine technology globally.

January 2024 On The Hill Updates

Government funding came down to the wire again this month when Congress passed another stopgap funding bill (a continuing resolution or "CR") that will fund the government into March. The spending bills that most directly impact the ocean community, including those that fund the Department of Defense, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Science Foundation (NSF), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), now expire at midnight on March 8. 

Falmouth, MA, December 19, 2023 - Teledyne Marine is pleased to announce the opening of a Service Center for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) in Poland. Established in partnership with Enamor Ltd, this new center reinforces our commitment to providing exceptional support and services to our valued customers in Poland and mainland Europe.

Anchoring Gratitude: Reflecting on 2023 and Charting Our Course for 2024

As we approach the end of 2023, the MTS team is looking forward to spending time with loved ones and reenergizing by doing the things that mean the most to us, with the people who mean the most to us. We wish the same for all of you, even in the midst of a season full of hustle and bustle. 

Captain Don Walsh, USN (Ret), PhD, was well known in oceanographic circles as one half of the team (partnered with Jacques Piccard) that descended 35,840 feet down at Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench in the U.S. Navy's bathyscaph Trieste in 1960. While there was significantly more to his life, the remarkable Trieste story is still told as one of the greatest oceanographic achievements. "The Trieste experience was a life-changing event," Don said. "One that opened many doors and firmly established my lifelong attitude about opportunity - to seize it when and wherever it was encountered." 

MTS REFLECTS ON A YEAR OF INNOVATION AND GROWTH IN 2023

As we approach the end of another eventful year, I am thrilled to take a moment to celebrate the remarkable growth and successes that have shaped MTS in 2023. One of the most significant accomplishments has been the successful integration of the MATE ROV Competition into our diverse lineup of programs. This strategic move has not only expanded our outreach but has also fostered a new dimension of innovation and learning within the field of marine technology. It also expands our community deep into the next generation of technical professionals. We are now shaping future generations of marine technologists while supporting those already in the field.

Charting the Course for MTS: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Community Engagement

Fall is a busy time rich with engagement throughout the MTS community and this year was no exception. Our headquarters team had the chance to connect and visit with members at OCEANS 2023 Gulf Coast, Lakebed 2030, the Dynamic Positioning Committee Conference, and the 31st Annual Oceaneering/MTS Symposium. These in-person events, and others like them throughout the year, provide an unrivaled opportunity to deepen connection, share conversation, and build the relationships that strengthen our marine technology community.

In its second year, the Marine Technology Society (MTS) EMERGE (Emerging Leaders in Marine Technology) program provided critical support for promising ocean professionals to attend the OCEANS Gulf Coast 2023 Conference. This year, the program expanded to 14 participants and included attendees from all backgrounds: community college students, early career professionals, graduate students, and undergraduate students.

Charting a Course for Success: Reflections on OCEANS Gulf Coast and the Path Forward for MTS

Late September brought a very busy week at MTS/IEEE  OCEANS Gulf Coast. I am thrilled to share that it was a highlight of the year for our Society. OCEANS is an embodiment of MTS’s mission, bringing together the marine technology community, including developers and users, in a vibrant exchange of ideas and expertise.