March 2023 Message from the President

MTS is growing, our partnership with MATE is progressing and we look forward to bringing our teams together to expand our reach, leverage our collective partnerships and resources, and grow our missions. We will be collaborating closely at the upcoming MATE ROV World Championship competition taking place June 22-24 at the St. Vrain Valley School District in Longmont, Colorado. 

The MATE ROV Competition is a pillar of STEM learning, engaging students from across the U.S. and around the world to design ROVs to complete mission tasks based on real-world, workplace scenarios. The 2023 Mission Task ‘MATE Floats! 2023’ is inspired by the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded GO-BGC Project. The goal of GO-BGC is to build a global network of profiling floats with chemical and biological sensors to monitor circulation, chemistry, biology, and overall ocean health. Teams are tasked with a set of challenges to overcome, based on their Competition Class (SCOUTNAVIGATORRANGERPIONEER, and EXPLORER). To learn more about the MATE ROV Competition, including the World Championship event and how to get involved, visit materovcompetition.org.

Ocean Business is rapidly approaching! MTS leadership is excited to head to Southampton for this key global event on April 18-20. We look forward to catching up with members and partners on site. Be sure to visit the MTS Pavilion where we will host member companies: AIRMAR Technology Corporation, AlphaGeoUK, Open Ocean Robotics, Saildrone, SEAMOR Marine, and Sofar Ocean.

Our call for nominations for the MTS Board of Directors is now open. As a volunteer led organization, the MTS Board of Directors is instrumental in the society’s governance and strategy while working in tandem with HQ staff to drive the operational success. Positions open for the 2023 election include the Vice President of Research, Industry, and Technology and the Vice President of Publications and Communications. Each position is a three-year term that begins on January 1, 2024. We look forward to welcoming new contributors to the MTS Board to strengthen our collective mission and vision. The deadline for nominations is June 15, 2023.

Likewise, our MTS Awards & Honors program is now open for nominations. MTS recognizes engineers, scientists, technologists, policymakers, educators, and students who make a significant impact on the profession or their community. These awards are an important recognition, and we encourage all members to submit nominations for outstanding peers or organizations in marine technology. There are eight categories in the 2023 MTS Awards & Honors program, ranging from individual to organizational awards. Nominations are due by May 31, 2023. To nominate, visit: mtsociety.org/awards-and-honors .

Several opportunities will be available throughout the year to meet for education as well as networking with individuals in marine technology. Direct personal connections and networking is a vital part of our industry and being a long-time member of MTS has helped me find and nurture many strong professional relationships. Our members present a wealth of knowledge and, based on my recent experiences, are eager to meet likeminded professionals. For those beginning their careers seeking an enhanced networking experience, look to the MTS EMERGE program. EMERGE is designed to give students and ECOPs a guided, financially supported experience at OCEANS Conferences. This include a series of networking and professional skill development events and each participant is matched with a senior mentor to accompany them throughout the conference and expand their professional network.

I look forward to connecting with members at upcoming events and always welcome hearing from you. Please reach out to me at [email protected]

Thank you,

Justin Manley
President, Marine Technology Society

 

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