at any scale (pages 74–77). A synopsis of the current state
of mapping of US waters (pages 78–80) and of US Extended
Continental Shelf Project milestones (page 79) follows.
We then summarize OER interagency projects external to
Okeanos Explorer such as DEEP SEARCH (pages 81–82) and
EXPRESS (page 83), before turning to OER advancement of
telepresence technology and the Telepresence 2.0 concept
(page 84). We also highlight OER’s extensive engagement
efforts (pages 85–87) and diversity and inclusion accom-
plishments (pages 88–89). OER’s section closes with OER-
sponsored projects that illustrate the broad spectrum of
exploration supported through grants, cooperative agree-
ments, and unsolicited projects (pages 90–99).
The Schmidt Ocean Institute continues to support
innovative technology and research to explore new
ocean realms. In the final section, SOI highlights some of
its accomplishments made through collaboration with
experts around the world (pages 100–109). Each of the
10 missions aboard Falkor brought impactful new scien-
tific tools to address critical questions in ocean science.
Advancements in technology led to new breakthroughs,
from characterizing novel benthic ecosystems to examin-
ing the role of the sea surface microlayer on the ocean’s
heat budget. These expeditions employed coordinated
technology that combines robotics, precise observations,
software, and data platforms working together to study
the ocean in new regions and on advanced temporal and
spatial scales. Each robotic system, sensor, and method
undergoes long-term development before it is applied at
sea on Falkor. This section highlights expeditions that are
essential to understanding the dynamic ocean and whose
results will lead to better ocean policies and management.
Through exhibits, ship-to-shore connections, the obser-
vations of students and artists at sea, and social media,
homes, and classrooms all over the world became part
of the SOI research team in 2019. With its philanthropic
efforts, SOI aims to demonstrate how scalable innovation
can tackle important scientific and societal challenges.
The year 2020 will bring new partnerships and opportu-
nities to grow our abilities to explore as the NOAA Ocean
Exploration Cooperative Institute joins several oceano-
graphic institutions with a common goal of exploring the
US Exclusive Economic Zone. Nautilus will explore along
the west coasts of the United States and Canada and
continue exploration and mapping of West Coast National
Marine Sanctuaries as well as Thunder Bay in Lake Huron.
Okeanos Explorer will conduct three regional expeditions,
starting with the US southeastern continental margin,
working within the US EEZ near Puerto Rico, expanding to
the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near the Azores, and then into the
high seas in the North Atlantic. Both OET and NOAA will
engage multidisciplinary teams of scientists, technicians,
and engineers to conduct seafloor mapping and ROV
explorations of the geological, biological, oceanographic,
and archaeological resources of these ocean areas, the
majority of which remain largely unexplored. Falkor will
embark on its first year-long initiative to conduct seven sci-
ence expeditions along all four sides of the Australian con-
tinent, with important implications for the sustainability
and protection of underwater ecosystems—and for similar
habitats worldwide that are in peril because of rising ocean
temperatures. SOI will also continue to focus on projects
that utilize advanced and coordinated robotic systems,
artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technology
that can offer effective tools to accelerate ocean research,
conservation, and management at scale.
We invite you to follow along with our explorations
online, and we look forward to sharing highlights of our
discoveries with you next year.
A large primnoid coral with squat lobsters, crinoids,
and urchins was observed at 520 m depth on the
west side of Jarvis Island, a US territory that is part
of the Line Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The image
was captured during E/V Nautilus expedition NA110.
Image credit: OET/WHOI MISO