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Projects Low-cost systems, AI-driven data analysis, and capacity development are required to create a new approach to increase exploration efficiency and access to the deep sea. Only now, with recent technological breakthroughs across numerous sectors, is it possible to truly accelerate the pace of exploration by working with people on every coastline to ensure they have the tools and abilities to explore the deep ocean for themselves. Current Projects Low-Cost Sensors and Systems Access to data collection is one of the primary barriers to deep-sea exploration. We are creating low-cost, easy-to-use deep-sea systems that gather the most critical data to inform environmental decision-making and deployment strategies. Learn More 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment The 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment, conducted by the Ocean Discovery League, is a baseline assessment of the technical and human capacity for deep-sea exploration and research in every coastal area with deep ocean worldwide. Learn More Accelerating Data Analysis Enormous amounts of ocean video have been collected in the last few decades, but little has been viewed or analyzed. We are developing AI-driven tools to dramatically accelerate analysis of existing and newly acquired ocean video and imagery. Learn More Capacity and Community Building: Ocean Discovery Fellowship The majority of countries have little or no ability to explore the 93% of the ocean that lies below 200 m. There is a significant capacity gap between high- and low-income countries with respect to access to tools, training, and infrastructure for deep-sea exploration and research. Learn More Partner Projects Bigelow's COBRA Program Katy Croff Bell participated as an instructor in the inaugural 2022 Deep-Sea Expedition Planning Master Class for the Crustal Ocean Biosphere Research Accelerator (COBRA). The mission of COBRA is to accelerate research on the structure, function, resilience, and ecosystem services of the crustal ocean biosphere to inform decision-making. Learn More The Deep Ocean Observing Strategy (DOOS) DOOS is "an international, community driven initiative that facilitates collaboration across disciplines and fields, elevates a diverse cohort of early career researchers into future leaders, and connects scientific advancements to societal needs. DOOS represents a global network of deep ocean observing, mapping, and modeling experts, focusing community efforts in the support of strong science, policy and planning for sustainable oceans." Learn More OceanX Young Explorers Program Ocean Discovery League is working with OceanX on the strategy and curriculum for its Young Explorers Program including participating in the most recent expedition aboard OceanXplorer providing hands-on research and mentorship opportunities to 15 university students in the fields of storytelling, marine biology, and ocean exploration. Learn More “To understand the full Earth system, we need to understand the deepest parts of the ocean” Dr. Dawn Wright Previous Projects The goal of My Deep Sea, My Backyard was to enable Kiribati and Trinidad & Tobago to explore their own deep-sea backyards using low-cost technology, while building lasting capacity. Learn More My Deep Sea, My Back Yard In 2019, the MIT Media Lab (MIT), National Geographic Society (NGS), Lindblad Expeditions (LEX) collaborated to create a pilot Deep-Sea Camera System training and deployment program. Learn More Deep-Sea Camera System Training The goal of Big Ocean, Big Data was to establish FathomNet, a new baseline dataset optimized to directly accelerate development of modern, intelligent, automated analysis of underwater visual data. Learn More Big Ocean, Big Data

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Accelerating Data Analysis Oceanographic data are collected in mass quantities worldwide, but it is often exclusively held by large institutions and requires advanced data analysis and computer science skills to process. Ocean Discovery League’s overarching goal is to uncover ways to simplify, accelerate, and consolidate ocean data so that analysis of it is more accessible and the results are more globally available to all researchers who can benefit from them worldwide. The Challenge In more than five decades of deep-ocean exploration, the oceanographic community has captured tens of thousands of hours of video and still imagery at considerable effort and expense. However, only a fraction of that video has been viewed and analyzed in its entirety, and even less shared with the global scientific community. Consolidation of underwater video data will catalyze a new era of discovery. It will allow us to harness the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to gain new insights, make discoveries from existing data at scale, and create data-driven real-time tools for ocean exploration. Recent advances in cloud computing and advanced analytics only now make those ambitions possible. ​ Our Strategy ​Our primary objectives in the acceleration and accessibility of ocean data analysis include: (1) the aggregation and analysis of ocean video using machine learning; (2) the preservation and digitization of ocean video; (3) making ocean data generally more accessible to less technical populations and researchers without deep expertise in data processing and machine learning; and (4) providing training on data analysis as part of both our capacity building and sensors & systems programs. ​ We are currently partnering with Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) on FathomNet (Katija et al., 2022), a labeled image set for ocean species, Ocean Vision AI (OVAI), a comprehensive tool to automatically identify organisms in deep-sea video, and additional projects to assist in the acceleration of labeled data sets and begin to gather archived video from their original sources. Ocean Vision AI was recently awarded $5 million in NSF Convergence Accelerator funding. As the product is trained and informed at scale, it will grow into a real-time platform that can be introduced into the ocean video collection workflow, dramatically increasing the value of ocean observations for scientists and policymakers alike. To complement the consolidation and analysis of ocean video, we are investigating initiatives to preserve as much original ocean video as possible. The little ocean video that has been captured over the past 50 years is now trapped on thousands of hours of physical tape in facilities and offices worldwide. This video degrades a little each day, and we may lose our only known observations of thousands of species. Our shortsightedness on what this video could contain or our future abilities to automatically analyze it means we abandoned much of this rare footage to collect dust on shelves. The time is now to save as much of this original footage as possible. ​ Data capacity training is also a key component of our overall capacity and community programs. Just because data is aggregated doesn’t inherently make it accessible. Many large institutions have data management and IT teams that can assist with more complex data processing and analysis. If a researcher does not have access to these resources, they will need training and tools to support their data analysis efforts. ​ The impact of the dramatic acceleration of deep ocean exploration will be transformative. Ultimately, we will see an unprecedented amount of new ocean data gathered that will help characterize the ocean for science-based decision-making worldwide. With the data analysis platforms developed alongside the information-gathering solutions, we could almost immediately expand our understanding of the ocean's biodiversity. Back to Projects Main "Bringing together deep sea data would be such an explosion of deep sea science. It’s a tractable problem if we just do it.” — Dr. Craig McClain, Executive Director of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Project Gallery Previous Project Next Project

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

Opportunities We highlight as many opportunities in the ocean exploration space as possible including job opportunities, workshops, grant opportunities, and more. If you have an event or opportunity you would like us to highlight, please email us at ahoy@oceandiscoveryleague.org . Ocean Solutions Fund Ocean Solutions Experiment Fund Projects We are proud to partner with Experiment on the Ocean Solutions Fund . This fund provides a fundraising platform for local ocean projects worldwide. These projects will not happen without your support! Please consider contributing to these projects and apply for your own project funds now at the Ocean Solutions website . Other Opportunities Schmidt's Expressions of Interest aboard R/V Falkor (too) Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) is soliciting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for collaborative, multidisciplinary research at any time and for any location identified as an area of operation for R/V Falkor (too). EOIs and full proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and are r eviewed twice per year. Submit an EOI here. Deadline: Rolling ​ COBRA Early Career Accelerator Stipends ​ COBRA is continuing to accept applications for their small accelerator stipends to accelerate the training of early career participants. These funds can be used for any type of training activity, and are expected to establish direct linkages among individuals to result in a more well-connected community and the development of future COBRA researchers and leaders. Apply here. Deadline: Rolling

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 ###

< Back Susan Poulton Vice President, Strategy and Communications Susan Poulton is the Vice President of Strategy and Communications at Ocean Discovery League. She has over twenty-five years of digital media, communications, and strategy experience, working with both the for-profit and non-profit organizations to help transform their media and outreach strategies. From ocean to space exploration, her passion is inspiring and awakening curiosity in any audience and moving them to action through creative experiences and storytelling. Most recently, Susan was the Chief Digital Officer of The Franklin Institute science museum in Philadelphia, where she conceived and developed a comprehensive digital strategy for the 8th largest science museum in the country. This strategy included website, social media, mobile app, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence applications and focused on the creation of science content for a global audience to support the educational mission of the museum and transform them into a digital leader among visitors, the community, and cultural institutions. Prior to this, she managed digital and social media strategy and external media relations for Dr. Robert Ballard’s Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) and the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus, implementing tactics for ocean science communication and storytelling resulting in thousands of viral media stories on ocean exploration and tens of millions of media hits. Susan was Vice President of Digital Media for the National Geographic Society for seven years. In that role she oversaw the development of many of National Geographic’s first online content verticals, resulting in dramatic growth for the Society’s digital presence and monetization capabilities. She then focused on outreach and content strategies for the Society’s non-profit and exploration initiatives including James Cameron’s DeepSea Challenge, The Genographic Project, Big Cats, Freshwater, Oceans, and Explorers portal. Her work on the Genographic and Expedition: Genghis Khan projects developed success tactics for citizen science engagement and resulted in two Webby nominations. While at National Geographic, she spearheaded a personal project to document all remaining space shuttle launches from 2006-2011 and the decommissioning of the space shuttle program. Susan also manages her own digital consulting firm, Door 44 Digital. In that role she develops digital strategies for multiple organizations in both the for profit and non-profit space and also conducts independent research on solutions to our current misinformation crisis and disaster communication tactics. An avid traveler and photographer, Susan spends her spare time volunteering to provide media and digital training to nonprofit organizations around the world, including as an instructor for National Geographic Photo Camp. She is a certified Advanced Emergency Medical Technical (AEMT) and a member of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team providing volunteer support locally as well as in refugee camps overseas. She is currently working on a project to document her attempt to summit the highest points in all 50 states in the United States.

< Back 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 to everyone around the world. Bell is a National Geographic Explorer and the Founder and President of the Ocean Discovery League. She is on a mission to break down the barriers to the deep sea by combining low-cost technologies, AI-driven data analysis, and capacity building to make access to the deep sea more efficient and accessible to all, especially those historically excluded in the field. Her background in ocean engineering, maritime archaeology, and geological oceanography, and leadership of dozens of expeditions around that world uniquely position her to create efficient, equitable systems to broaden access to the deep sea. Bell was previously the Founding Director of the Open Ocean Initiative at the MIT Media Lab, which was dedicated to developing programs for low-cost, distributed deployment of new and emerging technologies for ocean exploration and community building. As Executive Vice President of the Ocean Exploration Trust, she led the development of exploration, research, and educational outreach activities for E/V Nautilus, including management of scientists, engineers, educators, and students from 30+ countries working together to conduct telepresence-enabled expeditions around the world. Bell was Vice Chair of the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee in 2017-2019. She was a 2001 John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration, 2006 National Geographic Emerging Explorer, 2014 MIT Media Lab Director's Fellow, 2017-2020 National Geographic Fellow, and 2019 AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador. Bell holds an S.B. in ocean engineering from MIT, an M.Sc . in maritime archaeology from the University of Southampton, and a Ph.D. in geological oceanography from the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890

Capacity and Community Building The majority of countries have little or no ability to explore the 93% of the ocean that lies below 200 m. There is a significant capacity gap between high- and low-income countries with respect to access to tools, training, and infrastructure for deep-sea exploration and research. We are developing a pilot Ocean Discovery Fellowship program to establish the long-term technical and human capacity for deep-sea exploration and research in locations worldwide that do not currently have the capability to undertake this critical work. Traditional capacity development is a multidisciplinary approach extending beyond just training and education. It is a change process within organizations, individuals, and countries, and taking a piecemeal approach is often where capacity projects have failed in the past. We are learning from these experiences to apply new strategies to ocean exploration and research capacity development. The Ocean Discovery Fellowship will be the Ocean Discovery League’s flagship equity program to identify, train, and support ocean explorers and researchers from historically excluded backgrounds to foster a global demographic and generational shift that will change how we understand and care for our oceans. Our goal is to research and pilot an initial program, co-design it with individuals from representative countries, modify the program based on feedback, and scale it as a model to ultimately build sustainable infrastructure and environmental justice for deep-sea exploration and science worldwide. This fellowship will be a launching point for unlocking future opportunities for individuals and countries, changing their long-term trajectories, and creating transformative change in the field. The Ocean Discovery Fellowship is being informed by the 2022 Global Deep-Sea Capacity Assessment, the broadest deep-sea capacity assessment ever conducted. Drawing on survey and/or research data for 186 countries and territories, it documented and established the baseline information needed to understand the gaps, priorities, and needs in countries without the capability to explore and study their own deep ocean. These global inequities not only limit our ability to explore the deep sea from a scientific perspective, but they also result in exploration and conservation agendas that are dominated by those from high-resource areas. In addition to the capacity assessment, we have conducted a series of interviews with members of our diverse network of ocean explorers, many from marginalized communities. We are using both the assessment and feedback from our colleagues to create a flexible strategy for closing the capacity gaps in countries interested in pursuing deep-sea exploration and research, cultivating and growing local expertise. Equity is key to protecting the wonder and health of the ocean: we need diverse and innovative approaches co-designed by local communities to accelerate and expand our ability to explore it at scale. It's time for the next generation of ocean explorers to define and lead this work in the future. Back to Projects Main “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 Project Gallery Previous Project Next Project

Accessibility Statement This is an accessibility statement from Ocean Discovery League, Inc. regarding the Ocean Discovery League website. ​ Measures to support accessibility ​ Ocean Discovery League, Inc. takes the following measures to ensure accessibility of Ocean Discovery League Website: ​ Provide Alt Text for images to support screen readers. Include accessibility throughout our internal policies. Assign clear accessibility goals and responsibilities. ​ Conformance status ​ The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. Ocean Discovery League Website is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard. ​ Feedback ​ We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of Ocean Discovery League Website. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers on Ocean Discovery League Website: ​ E-mail: admin@oceandiscoveryleague.org Date ​ This statement was created on 3 September 2022 using the W3C Accessibility Statement Generator Tool .

< 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 Brian Kennedy Chief Scientist Dr. Brian Kennedy is a deep sea ecologist who has spent over a decade in ocean exploration. His basic research focuses on understanding how environmental drivers influence deep sea organisms. As part of that work, he is always looking for ways to increase the pace and efficiency of ocean exploration through both the development of new technologies and the novel utilization of existing technologies in the deep sea. Brian earned his PhD in marine ecology from Boston University, and also holds a Masters in biology (BU) and a bachelors in marine biology (College of Charleston). He has published numerous peer reviewed articles and more than a dozen white papers and other publications relating to deep sea ecology, ocean exploration, and underwater technology development and utilization. He has participated in more than 40 exploration expeditions and has led over a dozen–totaling over 2 years at sea in the past 15 years. Brian is an expert in at sea operations using sonar, remote sensing, and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for ocean exploration projects. He has worked extensively internationally leading projects in several countries including partnerships with foreign governments. He has been part of some of the first deep submergence exploration in North Sulawesi Indonesia, the waters around Wake Island, and both the Phoenix and Gilbert archipelagos. Brian began his career in ocean exploration as a NOAA Commissioned officer on board the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. During his 6 years as a commissioned officer, Brian had various assignments ranging from ship officer to Deputy Program Manager of the Okeanos Explorer program. In 2016, Brian resigned his commission to start Deep Submergence Consulting which provides expedition and telepresence project management services to NOAA and several NGOs. During his time with NOAA and providing services as a contractor for NOAA Brian’s efforts received wide recognition, including 2 NOAA Corps Achievement Medals, led the team that won a Department of Commerce Bronze Medal for their work documenting the Japanese midget submarine that was sunk trying to sneak into Pearl Harbour as part of the 75th commemoration of the attack. He was also a principal member of a team that was awarded a Department of Commerce Gold Medal for their 3 year effort as part of the CAPSTONE Campaign to explore and document the United State’s deep water Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Pacific. Brian’s research and advocacy efforts are deeply intertwined with marine conservation through MPAs. He serves as a member of the Science Advisory Team for the National Ocean Protection Coalition and works to connect cutting edge science with marine policy to work towards a better managed and projected deep sea. Much of his research has focused on data collected within MPAs and helping local governments and populations better understand what exists within the waters they have chosen to protect. He believes that science should be utilized to drive conservation and is actively engaged in helping to translate research into marine policy initiatives.