As the end of 2024 draws near, I am honored to share some thoughts and observations with our global members. This marks my final message as President, as I will transition to Immediate Past President at the end of the year. Over the past two years, MTS has achieved remarkable growth and I am thrilled to share some highlights.
The New England Section recently conducted its elections for officer positions, and we are delighted to announce the new leadership team, whose terms will run through June 30, 2026. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Nick Rotker, MITRE, for his service as past Chair and are pleased to welcome the following Section officers:
MTS is proud to be a supporter of Ocean Exchange, a global leader in accelerating innovative solutions for healthy oceans and a sustainable blue economy. This year marked the 13th anniversary of Ocean Exchange’s prestigious award competition, which continues to draw groundbreaking startups from around the world. Finalists represented seven countries, offering solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our planet.
I hope this message finds you well as we near the end of another remarkable year for the MTS community. Our HQ team was in New Orleans earlier this month for Underwater Intervention and the annual Submarine Symposium, both in collaboration with the WorkBoat Show. It was a great opportunity to visit with members, expand partnerships, and learn from a robust technical program throughout the show.
This month, the MTS Houston Section BBQ brought together members, sponsors, and partners to support and celebrate marine technology education and innovation. With the support of our generous sponsors, the event provided $39,600 in scholarships to future leaders in ocean engineering, robotics, and marine technology.
Fugro is the world's leading Geo-data specialist. We map, model, and monitor the natural and built environment, unlocking insights from Geo-data to support the energy transition, sustainable infrastructure, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Our focus on ocean, coastal, and inland environments aligns with MTS's goal of advancing marine technology awareness and applications.
We are saddened by the incredible impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton on communities along the Gulf of Mexico and in the Southeastern United States this month. MTS has hundreds of members, partners, and staff members in the region – including our SeaMATE Store fulfillment center in eastern Tennessee. Many in our community have been severely impacted by these storms -- they are all at the forefront of our thoughts. To help translate our sympathy and concern into action, MTS has donated to the Hurricanes Milton and Helene fund at American Red Cross. There are dozens of exceptional organizations providing much-needed support to impacted communities from Tennessee, through the Carolinas, and across Florida. Please consider how you can represent the compassion and generosity of our community by assisting those who need our help.
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.
The story of how a student’s dream became a reality through the power of connection
I am writing this message from Halifax, Nova Scotia. As fall colors begin to appear in the Northeast USA and Atlantic Canada, I would like to reflect on recent MTS activities that highlight our vibrant society. First, our participation in OCEANS Halifax was an undeniable success. It was a privilege to connect with so many members of our global community. With over 1,500 attendees from over 36 countries, the value of MTS as a hub for international collaboration and networking was on full display. A heartfelt thank you to our gracious hosts in Halifax for setting the stage for such meaningful conversations and partnerships.
This month, we are shining light on MTS member - SOFAR Ocean, a leader in marine technology, dedicated to improving ocean health through innovative data solutions. Join us as we explore their impactful contributions to marine science and technology.
We are pleased to announce the results of the 2024 Board of Directors Election! Thanks to your participation, we have elected an outstanding group of leaders who will help guide the Marine Technology Society forward.
We are thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2024 MTS Awards! Each year, we celebrate the outstanding accomplishments and dedication of the marine technology community. This year's awardees represent a diverse range of expertise and serve as inspiring examples of excellence across various areas, from technological innovation to volunteerism and mentorship. We are also proud to recognize a company that has made an extraordinary contribution to advancing marine technology. Our awardees exemplify a steadfast commitment to tackling challenges that have a lasting and meaningful impact on our interconnected global community.
Sea-Bird Scientific is a global leader in oceanographic instrumentation, used around the world by researchers and scientists studying climate change, ecosystem health, and more. At Sea-Bird Scientific's foundation is a diverse Science Team that encompasses oceanography, metrology, chemistry, engineering, and more. We stand behind Sea-Bird Scientific reliability and accuracy — because we create instruments that we regularly use in our own fieldwork.
Forecast AI's advanced machine learning models are trained on actual local observed data for more accurate coastal weather forecasts
ON&T and environmental coastal & offshore to offer exclusive benefits to MTS members
The last few months of the calendar year are always my favorite. The seasons are starting to change; universities are back in session; there is a rich schedule of conferences, convenings, and events; our members get to choose their annual award winners and board members; and there are so many incredible opportunities to visit, talk, and connect across our marine technology community.
The Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT) MTS Student Section recently hosted an Summer Camp in August aimed at introducing young students, some as young as 8 years old, to maritime industry. This initiative successfully gathered over 100 students from more than 20 different schools to learn about the vast opportunities within marine, offshore, ocean, and safety fields. Throughout the camp, participants were introduced to the significance of the maritime sector through interactive sessions.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wed Jan 8, 2025MTS Women Leadership in Marine Science and Technology Webinar Series | Quantifying Attrition in Science Category: Webinars |
Sat Jan 11, 2025MATE ROV Competition: Teacher Professional Development Workshop - Santa Cruz Category: Events |
Wed Jan 15, 2025Ocean Enterprise Initiative's Dialogue with Industry - HABs (Dialogue 1) Category: Webinars |
