During MBARI’s annual Day of Engineering, Science, and Technology, the staff presented new research and development to the institute’s board of directors. Wide-ranging presentations and a “tools of the trade” walking tour comprised this year’s special day, which focused on the theme “extending our reach”. The presentations highlighted teamwork within and beyond the walls of MBARI—between scientists and engineers and between MBARI staff and other oceanic institutions, governmental organizations, nonprofits, and technologically based businesses.
Presenters told the board of several research and engineering efforts, including the pursuit for less invasive, and more effective, biodiversity research and observations; the importance of tracing organic pollutants and plastics through oceanic food webs; exploring effective restoration of deep-sea corals to re-seed damaged or disturbed seafloor surfaces; and the use of technological solutions to monitor marine protected areas and rebuild fish populations.
The walking tour showcased the innovative engineering and technology that will make all of this research successful, such as the ability to recharge autonomous underwater vehicles with wave energy harnessed by a power buoy, modernizing video assets by incorporating next-generation video capture, analysis, distribution, and backup storage; operating a laboratory designed to study upwelling, rising ocean temperatures, and ocean acidification. Overall, the event showcased MBARI’s ability to reach beyond organizational boundaries and thought processes to attain novel solutions and possibilities—a great day for board members, employees, and summer interns.
