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< Back Roderick MacLeod Board Treasurer Roderick MacLeod is a management consultant. Roderick has also developed an art practise, and an art residency in Switzerland. He was Chief Navigator for the Ocean Exploration Trust's E/V Nautilus in the Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico. He led a portfolio financing desk at Lehman Brothers in New York. He also helped deploy early broadband network technology with Cisco Systems based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Roderick undertook Officer and intensive navigation training with the UK's Royal Navy. Roderick holds a S.B. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Management Science, a Master of Financial Engineering from University of California Berkeley and a Master of Art and Science from the Graduate School of Art at Central Saint Martin's in London. He serves as Treasurer on the Board of the Ocean Discovery League. Roderick lives in Gibraltar with his wife and three children. ​ ​

Board of Directors Ellen Blix Board Chair Ellen Blix is a partner at SignalFire, an early-stage venture capital manager based in San Francisco. She is the current Board Chair of Ocean Discovery League. Read More Peter Girguis Board Member Dr. Peter Girguis is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. Read More Rafael Anta Board Member Rafael Anta is a Principal Specialist in the Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation Division at the Inter-American Development Bank. Read More Roderick MacLeod Board Treasurer Roderick MacLeod is a management consultant and investment advisor. Read More Katy Croff Bell Board Member Dr. Katy Croff Bell is a deep sea explorer who is passionate about developing new ways to better understand the ocean and make it more accessible. Read More Susan Poulton Board Secretary Susan Poulton is a strategy and digital media specialist. Her work focuses on digital products, strategic planning, fundraising, and communications. Read More

About Us Founded by deep-sea explorer Dr. Katy Croff Bell, the Ocean Discovery League’s mission is to accelerate deep-ocean exploration by developing accessible systems to broaden the community of those who explore and understand the deep sea. ​ The deep-sea covers two-thirds of our planet, yet over 99% remains unexplored because present-day ocean exploration is exclusive, expensive, and slow. We aim to create equity in deep-ocean exploration by co-designing accessible, low-cost opportunities and systems for ocean explorers worldwide. This will dramatically increase and accelerate our ability to observe, manage, and protect the ocean, resulting in humankind thriving on earth now and in the future. Our Vision Our Vision A discovered, thriving ocean The Challenge The ocean is critical to life on earth, providing more than half of the oxygen we breathe, supplying 20% of the average per capita animal protein intake to 3.1 billion people, and supporting a growing $1.5T global ocean economy. Despite humankind's reliance on the ocean, we have barely explored a fraction of the largest and most crucial component of the earth's biosphere. In addition, recent studies have shown that we are changing the environmental conditions of the deep sea before we even know what is there. As a result, we don't fully understand how to wisely use and protect it now and in the future. Our limited understanding stems from today's inefficient, expensive, and elite approach to exploration. Our technologies are too slow—it would take 10,000+ years to see the entire seafloor at the current rate. Existing robotic vehicles cost millions of dollars and require large ships at tens of thousands of dollars per day. Because of their expense, the few existing technologies are owned and operated by wealthy nations and individuals. With a growing global population and increasing anthropogenic pressures on earth, the time for a bold initiative to explore, understand, and share the full depths of the oceans is now. We need to invest in new technologies, research methods, and social systems to transform what it means to explore and discover in the 21st century. ​ By creating a suite of low-cost, distributed tools and supporting a community of explorers around the globe, we will make significantly more progress in understanding our planet than ever before. Our Mission Our Mission To accelerate deep ocean exploration by developing accessible systems to broaden the community of those who explore and understand the deep sea. Our Strategy The Ocean Discovery League was founded in 2021 and is led by National Geographic Explorer Dr. Katy Croff Bell. Before founding ODL, Bell was the Founding Director of the Open Ocean Initiative at the MIT Media Lab. After four years at the Media Lab, it was necessary to break from the traditional academic structure and start a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization to focus on operationalizing deep-ocean innovation, understanding, and community building. ODL’s ideas, philosophies, and projects are a continuation of her team’s work in deep-sea exploration over the past 20 years, specifically three initiatives that began during Bell’s time at the Media Lab: ​ 1. Development of low-cost, easy-to-use systems for deep sea exploration, reducing the barriers to access of deep-sea data collection. 2. Ocean artificial intelligence development, advancing underwater imagery and environmental data analysis. 3. Capacity development with underrepresented communities, focusing on those who have been historically excluded from deep sea exploration and research. ​ Initial pilot projects partnering with strong community leaders and deploying effective, low-cost technologies have proven successful. ODL is bringing forward our learnings to scale up deep-sea data collection, analysis, and training to work with new communities on these important initiatives worldwide. Our Team We work with a worldwide team of creative, passionate individuals. Meet the Team

< Back Dan Novy Imagineer Dan Novy (also known as NovySan) is an Assistant Professor of Emerging Media Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he teaches the Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts course “StoryLab,” and a Research Affiliate at the MIT Media Lab , where he co-originated the "Science Fiction-Inspired Prototyping" and "Indistinguishable from Magic" classes. His work focuses on decreasing the alienation fostered by traditional passive media consumption; increasing social interaction through transparent, interconnected and fluid media; and creating enriched, active, and inspired immediate experiences. He is a former visiting scientist at Magic Leap, and an Emmy- and Visual Effects Society Award-winning VFX technical supervisor, transmedia experience designer, and artist who formerly chaired the Visual Effects Society's Technology Committee.

< Back Kylie Pasternak Systems Engineer Kylie Pasternak is an ocean technology operator and technician. She provides engineering support for product development and technical assistance to the user community.

Accessing the Deep: Deep Ocean Training & Mentoring Program ​ Exploring the Ocean with Low-Cost Tools Applications due May 27, 2024 Ocean Discovery League (ODL) is launching a new training program for early career individuals in the Pacific region to address head-on the inefficient, expensive, and inequitable deep sea exploration and research practices that continue to hinder our ability to explore the deep ocean at scale. This global inequity creates multiple challenges, including shaping research agendas, limited scientific exploration, hindered development of sustainable ocean-based economies, and the exclusion of individuals from appreciating the deep ocean's value. We aim to increase the number of people and diversity of community within deep-sea exploration. Participants will receive comprehensive online training in technical and oceanographic knowledge from international deep-sea science experts. The course will focus on low-cost, accessible approaches to exploring waters deeper than 200 m. It will also assist participants with crafting research proposals incorporating accessible tools and solutions for localized deep-sea exploration. After the training, attendees will be mentored by deep-sea or regional experts to develop research proposals tailored to localized deep-sea exploration, ensuring they are equipped to make meaningful contributions to the field. The deep sea covers two-thirds of our planet, yet over 99% remains unexplored. Let's discover it together! 1/1 Program Details ​ Duration: Seven-month program launching week commencing on June 17, 2024 comprised of online training followed by virtual mentoring. ​ Online Training: 10 weekly virtual training sessions using Zoom held on weekday mornings (Palau time) from June 17 to August 19, 2024. Online Mentoring : Five months of online mentoring to support participants in developing localized research proposals and applications (August to December 2024). ​ Format ​ During the online training, each week, participants will: ​ Participate in a live online training call and discussion session held using Zoom. ​​​ Engage in conversation with other participants and instructors using a dedicated WhatsApp group. Following the online training, participants will be partnered with a mentor and are expected to: ​ Meet with the mentor each month to discuss the progress of their application. Note: The online training content will be offered in English, and participants will be asked to communicate in English. Online sessions will be recorded but only available to participants who were unable to attend the class or wish to revisit the material. Recordings of discussion sections will not be made public to protect vulnerable questions or conversations. Participants are expected to use their own computing devices with microphones, cameras, and internet access to participate in this program. They must be able to connect to the workshops using their accounts. Up to USD $50 may be requested for internet bandwidth to participate in online programs. ​ Who Should Apply ​ Applicants should hold at least an associate's degree or demonstrate equivalent experience and be at least 21 years old. We seek enthusiastic individuals with a marine science background, whether gained through formal academic study or equivalent hands-on experience, and a strong passion for ocean exploration. While previous hands-on experience in deep-sea research is not mandatory, a keen interest in the field is highly valued. We're particularly focused on individuals interested in expanding their work into deep-sea applications and how to use low-cost technology to achieve those goals. This 2024 training and mentoring opportunity is aimed at individuals from the Pacific Islands, focusing on candidates from Palau, American Samoa, Samoa, Niue, and the Cook Islands, receiving priority consideration. Individuals from these countries who are studying or living abroad are also welcome to apply. We strongly encourage applications from historically excluded communities. Selected participants will receive a stipend of USD $1000 to support their involvement in the program. ​ Selection Criteria ​ Participant eligibility for the program will be determined by ODL based on the following criteria: ​ Demonstrated interest in deep-sea exploration and research. Compelling motivation for participation in the program. Clear articulation of how the training will contribute to their local community. Availability to participate in the online training. Candidates will be notified by email of their selection status by May 31, 2024, and selected candidates will have 5 days to confirm acceptance to participate in the program. ​ Application Process and Deadline ​ Complete the online application form via the link below by Monday, May 27, 2024, at 11:59 PM (Palau Time). Apply Now Can't apply for this program? Sign up here to be notified of future opportunities. “People just don’t know what’s beneath the water surface. If they don’t know, they don’t love it, and they won’t protect it.” — Veta Wade, Founder & Director of Fish ‘N Fins, Montserrat

< Back Peter Girguis Board Member Peter Girguis is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. Professor Girguis received his B.Sc . from UCLA, his Ph.D. from the UC Santa Barbara, and was a Packard Postdoctoral Fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. He joined the Harvard University faculty in 2005. He has been a member of the Harvard faculty ever since, serving as a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, as well as Co-Director of the Harvard Microbial Sciences Initiative. Broadly speaking, Professor Girguis studies how animals and microbes have evolved to thrive in their particular environments and, in turn, how their metabolic activities shape those environments. He also develops novel “open-access” instruments such as underwater mass spectrometers and microbial samplers, for use on human-occupied, robotic, and autonomous vehicles in the deep sea. He also strives to make these tools available to the broader research community, including scientists at institutions of lesser means, with the goal of furthering scientific capabilities around the world. Professor Girguis was a Distinguished Lecturer for the National Science Foundation’s RIDGE program, a Merck Co. Innovative Research Awardee, and two-term chair of the National Deep Submergence Science Committee. He serves on several notable boards, including the Ocean Exploration Trust and the Schmidt Marine Technology Partners. He has authored or co-authored over 115 publications, and his honors include the 2007 and 2011 Lindbergh Foundation Award for Science & Sustainability, the 2018 Lowell Thomas Award for groundbreaking advances in Marine Science and Technology, and the 2020 Petra Shattuck Award for Distinguished Teaching. He was recently named a Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Investigator for his research on marine symbioses. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890

< Back Rafael Anta Board Member Rafael Anta is a Principal Specialist in the Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation Division at the Inter-American Development Bank. He works in the design and supervision of loans and technical assistance projects to support the design of public policies and investments to foster science, technology, and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean, with most interest in biotechnology, artificial intelligence and bluetech. Previously, he was a senior advisor to IDB’s Executive Vice President for 5 years, scouting for scientific discoveries, emerging technologies and disruptive applications that can contribute to solving development challenges. Prior to the IDB, Rafael was a senior consultant at Accenture, where he designed business technology strategies, led the development and integration of large-scale computer systems, and researched technologies for Telecom, Media and Internet companies. He has a five-year degree in Computer Engineering from Ramón Llull University (Barcelona, Spain), ​​Summa Cum Laude, and executive education training in data science and artificial intelligence. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MOST EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF GLOBAL DEEP-SEA EXPLORATION CAPABILITIES FINDS WIDESPREAD CAPACITY INEQUITIES The 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment included 186 countries and territories and investigated access to vessels, deep submergence vehicles, data analysis tools, and expertise. (Saunderstown, RI — Sept 15, 2022) On September 12, 2022, the Ocean Discovery League (ODL)—led by oceanographer and National Geographic deep-sea explorer Dr. Katy Croff Bell—released the results of the first Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment (GDSCA) , the most extensive study of its kind ever conducted. The 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment is a baseline assessment of the technical and human capacity for deep-sea exploration and research in every coastal area with deep ocean worldwide. This assessment, an official activity of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, presents global and regional results related to organizational infrastructure, technical capacity, accessibility to deep-sea tools, satisfaction with those tools, and the most significant deep-sea challenges and opportunities each region faces. The results demonstrate the unique regional and subregional challenges and opportunities facing deep-sea research and exploration in each location. "Ocean exploration is still a significant perpetrator of colonial science because the current tools are expensive, inefficient, and inaccessible," said Dr. Bell. "We need to create inclusive tools, training, and access that open this area of exploration up to everyone worldwide. Equity must be at the core of future ocean exploration." Just how many countries actually have the capacity to access and work in the deep ocean? This knowledge is essential to make deep-sea exploration and science more inclusive and equitable. Exploration and research in the 93% of our planet's ocean that lies deeper than 200 m are typically conducted by only a handful of countries with the required financial and personnel resources. Previous studies on deep-sea exploration capacity underrepresented these capabilities by gathering feedback from a limited set of countries. "The GDSCA is the first comprehensive evidence of persisting and pervasive global gaps in deep-sea exploration and scientific capacity," said Dr. Diva Amon, co-author of the study and marine biologist from Trinidad and Tobago. "Having these inequities laid out in black and white is an essential step in being able to question the adequacy of past and current approaches to capacity development and instead move to meaningful and equitable partnerships that are driven from the start by those who need them most." ​ Key findings of the assessment include: Many who consider deep-sea exploration & research important do not have deep-sea tools & technologies: Respondents for numerous subregions, particularly Micronesia, Melanesia, Western Africa, and Eastern Africa, felt that deep-sea exploration & research was considered important in their location but did not have access to the tools needed to do deep-sea work. In many places, there is expertise but not technology: In every subregion, respondents indicated that the presence of in-country individuals with deep-sea expertise exceeded the availability of deep-sea tools. More access to vessels, DSVs, sensors, and data tools would activate available expertise to conduct locally-led deep-sea exploration and research. More deep submergence vehicles are needed globally: Deep submergence vehicles were the technical capacity that had the lowest presence, access, and satisfaction worldwide. More access to lower-cost, easy-to-use technologies suitable for deep water would be transformative globally. Non-research assets could be available for deep ocean research: While vessels were the technical capacity with the most extensive presence worldwide, in general, vessels were the technical capacity to which respondents had the second-lowest access. Unlocking access to additional vessels for use in research would be transformational. Funding is the top challenge: Survey respondents identified funding as the single greatest challenge, followed by human capacity and knowledge, access to vessels, and access to deep submergence vehicles to undertake deep-sea research. Low-cost solutions are key to increasing access to the deep sea. Prioritizing deep-sea exploration is essential: Many respondents felt that their countries did not consider deep-sea research and exploration important. Making stronger internal cases for why deep-sea exploration is critical in each location could be beneficial in securing support. Tailored strategies are needed for each location: Better understanding of the physical environment can help ensure the greatest return on investment. For example, in Central America, Melanesia, and Western Asia, 75% of all EEZs lie between 200 to 4,000 m, and all African EEZs are less than 6,000 m. Creating deep-ocean technologies and strategies tailored to each location would be more efficient than a one-size-fits-all approach. Detailed research and inclusion matter: The results of this study were more nuanced than expected. The assessment documented previously underreported details, from the available human capacity to possible vessel access. The very act of including and reaching out to people in locations often under-resourced and overlooked in many global studies created a community and a sense of inclusion that made the effort and detail of this report and future studies of its kind valuable in many ways. The research was conducted by a global team representing the regions highlighted in the study. "The Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment is a real encouragement and impetus for African countries towards deep-sea exploration," said Otmane Sarti, a participating researcher from Morocco. From 200 to nearly 11,000 meters below sea level, the deep sea encompasses the single largest—and arguably the most critical—biosphere on Earth. Almost two-thirds of all exclusive economic zones (EEZs) combined have water depths between 2,000 and 6,000 meters, making this a particularly critical depth range to access. "It is my hope that the 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment will provide the information needed to strategically develop, equitably implement, and quantitatively measure the progress of deep-sea exploration and research capacity development throughout the next decade and beyond," said Dr. Bell. ODL will continue to monitor changes in deep-sea capacity over the UN Ocean Decade and beyond by conducting the second Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment in 2025-2026 and a third in 2029-2030. Everyone from marine scientists to machine learning engineers to business leaders has a role in supporting global deep-sea research and exploration efforts. Whether coding new tools, training new deep-sea researchers, or leading an expedition, it will take many skills to achieve these goals. We invite you to visit the Ocean Discovery League at www.oceandiscoveryleague.org to learn more about our current projects. About Ocean Discovery League Ocean Discovery League aims to remove barriers to equity in deep-sea exploration by developing low-cost deep-sea technologies, creating AI-driven data analysis tools, and building capacity with historically excluded communities. With a growing global population and increasing anthropogenic pressures on Earth, the time for innovative initiatives to explore, understand, and share the full depths of the oceans is now. We need to invest in new technologies, research methods, and social systems to transform what it means to explore and discover in the 21st century. By creating a suite of low-cost, distributed tools and supporting a community of explorers around the globe, we will make significantly more progress in understanding our planet than ever before. Follow us online at www.oceandiscoveryleague.org and on Twitter as @OceanDiscLeague. MEDIA CONTACT: Susan Poulton Director, Strategy and Communications Email: susan@oceandiscoveryleague.org Mobile: +1-703-568-6117 Facebook: Ocean Discovery League Twitter: @OceanDiscLeague Instagram: @OceanDiscLeague URL: http://www.oceandiscoveryleague.org ###

Events Past Events JETZON Monthly Open Call: Exposing Inequities in Deep-Sea Exploration and Research March 7, 2023 Dr. Katy Croff Bell presented the results of the 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment at JETZON's May Open Call. GSO Public Lecture Series: Women in Ocean Science March 7, 2023 Dr. Katy Croff Bell joined Dr. Fenix Garcia Tigreros and Dr. Katherine Kelley in a panel discussion to share their perspectives on how the “leaky pipeline” of gender disparity in marine science can be fixed. AtlantOS Ocean Hour: Democratizing Ocean Observations through low cost technologies & citizen science January 30, 2023 Dr. Katy Croff Bell presented on Ocean Discovery League's work with low cost sensors in a panel discussion about democratizing ocean observation. Ocean Exploration Day: Q&A with Don Walsh and Dawn Wright January 23, 2023 Dr. Katy Croff Bell's recorded live Q+A with ocean explorers Don Walsh and Dawn Wright, where they discuss their expeditions to Challenger Deep. NOAA Central Library: Preview of the Global Deep-Sea Capacity Results June 22, 2022 Dr. Katy Croff Bell and Dr. Maud Quinzin, Capacity Assessment Project Manager presented the preliminary results of the 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment at the NOAA Central Library Series. Slack for Good/Ocean Discovery League Partnership Launch July 22, 2021 To launch the partnership with Ocean Discovery League, Slack hosted an employee Town Hall with Dr. Katy Croff Bell and other leading experts from National Geographic Society and Polynesian Voyaging Society to highlight the opportunities created by diversifying the voices driving climate action. Learn More Dr. Katy Croff Bell Testifies Before Congress June 5, 2019 On Wednesday, June 5, 2019, Dr. Katy Croff Bell testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology Subcommittee on Environment on the topic of Ocean Exploration: Diving to New Depths and Discoveries. Watch her full testimony below, and read or download her full official remarks here. The Atlantic International Research Centre Summer Series August 27, 2020 Dr. Katy Croff Bell, presented on Deep Sea Exploration: Past + Present + Future at the AIR Center. Deep sea exploration today is inefficient, elite, and expensive. As a result, we don’t fully understand how to wisely use and protect the ocean, so that we may thrive today and into the future. 2019 National Geographic Explorers Symposium February 11, 2019 On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, linguistic anthropologist Sandhya Narayanan, paleoanthropologist and stand-up comic Ella Al-Shamahi, oceanographer Katy Croff Bell, and carnivore ecologist Rae Wynn-Grant—amazing explorers who are pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and inspiring the next generation—presented on "Expanding the Field of Exploration." Previous Events From 2017 to 2021, the Open Ocean Initiative at the MIT Media Lab hosted several gatherings and pursued multiple project initiatives. In 2021, Open Ocean spun off to become Ocean Discovery League to continue this work. 2018 Here Be Dragons Conference Report In February 2018, we convened 200 explorers, innovators, artists, scientists, and storytellers in collaboration with NGS at an event called Here be Dragons. Our goal was to identify the uncharted territories that still exist in ocean exploration and storytelling. All Hands on Deck, held at the MIT Media Lab, was the 2018 National Ocean Exploration Forum. Its goal was to imagine creative new ways to make the ocean so pervasive in modern culture that everyone has a positive association with the sea. 2018 National Ocean Exploration Forum: All Hand on Deck The Open Ocean Seminar Series was a curated speaker series focusing on new technologies and capacity building approaches for deep sea exploration. Seminars were held biweekly in the spring of 2019 and spring, summer, and fall of 2020. Open Ocean Seminar Series

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< Back Nadiah Rosli Capacity Development Program Manager Nadiah is a freelance journalist, communications specialist and project manager from Malaysia. She has a wide experience of conservation and previously worked at World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia, Animal Projects & Environmental Education Malaysia and Earthworm Foundation. She believes that an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge is a fantastic thing, and her writings focus on the intersection of science with culture and nature. Her work has been featured in VICE (Motherboard), Public Radio International, Scidev.net , and New Naratif, among others. In 2021, she served as scriptwriter for a live puppet show featuring music and local and Indigenous folktales on the environment from Malaysia titled, ‘ASLI – Resonance in Our Roots’. From 2020 – 2022, she was Project Director at Internews, an international media development non-profit where she managed a project called Suara Masyarakat (Community Voices). The project aimed to strengthen the capacity of Malaysian media as a key actor in promoting good governance, transparency and accountability through high quality investigative, data, mobile journalism, and citizen journalism training. Suara Masyarakat also focused on amplifying the voices of underrepresented voices in the media such as women, minorities, Indigenous and marginalized groups.