EMERGE 2024: Shaping the Future of Ocean Professionals

In its third year, the Marine Technology Society (MTS) EMERGE (Emerging Leaders in Marine Technology) program provided critical support for promising ocean professionals to attend the OCEANS Halifax 2024 Conference. This year, the program hosted 14 participants and included attendees from all backgrounds: early career professionals, graduate students, and undergraduate students.

EMERGE Group Photo 2024

The EMERGE program is designed to provide networking opportunities and foster professional skill development for students and early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs). The program includes two levels of engagement: the year-long cohort, which goes through a comprehensive professional development experience, and the local cohort, which engages the local community in targeted activities surrounding OCEANS Halifax 2024 Conference. Both groups benefit from virtual convenings, in-person interactions, and connections with the marine technology community, with support to attend the OCEANS 2024 conference.

Jovana Kornicer, Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat / ECOP, stated, “I am incredibly grateful to Marine Technology Society (MTS) for providing me with the opportunity to attend OCEANS 2024 as part of the local EMERGE cohort. This experience has been invaluable, connecting me with ocean professionals from around the world.”

A core component of the EMERGE Program is the pairing of each participant with a seasoned mentor. EMERGE Mentors, as dedicated volunteers, play a pivotal role in guiding participants throughout the conference, encouraging exploration of topics of interest, and facilitating the expansion of their professional networks.

Janelle M. Hrycik, Sea-Bird Scientific,is a first time EMERGE mentor. She stated " What a wonderful, fulfilling experience to participate as a mentor in the MTS EMERGE Program.  It was such a joy to spend time with the… mentees at OCEANS 2024.  I can't wait to see how they each apply their unique perspectives and talents to ocean science and technology." 

EMERGE reflects MTS's dedication to supporting future generations of ocean professionals. The next EMERGE opportunity will take place at OCEANS Chicago 2025. Be sure to become an MTS member so you can apply when applications open in early 2025.

Congratulations to the EMERGE 2024 Participants:

  • Gift Bassey, Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • Norman Chung, University of Hawaii at Mānoa
  • Rabi Elabor, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
  • Nicholas Gagliano, Sofar Ocean / University of Southern Mississippi
  • Diego Johansen, University of Hawaii at Hilo; PacIOOS
  • Sarah Manson, Open Ocean Robotics
  • Hafeez Oladejo, University of Southern Mississippi
  • Kylie Pasternak, University of Rhode Island
  • Adithya Selvakumar, University of Pennsylvania
  • Nithesh Wazenn, Babson Olin Graduate School of Business
  • Jovana Kornicer, Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat
  • Adiza Mohammed, ECOP-Africa
  • Jay Patel, Dalhousie University
  • Julianne Jager, Dalhousie University

Thank you to the EMERGE 2024 Mentors:

  • Tosca Lichtenheld, Sofar Ocean
  • Jacob Sobin, Kongsberg Discovery
  • Janelle M. Hrycik, Sea-Bird Scientific
  • Richard Mills, Cellula Robotics Ltd.
  • Liza Wright-Fairbanks, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ocean Acidification Program
  • Joe Pratt, Ocean Tracking Network
  • Paul Jubinski, Jubinski TEKADE
  • Jerry Miller, Science for Decisions LLC
  • Cailin Burmaster, University of Western Australia
  • Jason Adelaars, MBARI
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