NOAA joins OceanX to advance ocean exploration and mapping

Collaboration designed to improve public understanding of the ocean

NOAA and the exploration initiative OceanX have forged a formal agreement to advance cutting-edge ocean exploration and scientific research that increases public understanding of the importance and value of the ocean.

Through a new memorandum of understanding, NOAA scientists will advise and join OceanX on missions aboard specially designed high-tech OceanX vessels to advance their shared goals to explore and characterize the deep ocean.

“We are living in a new age of ocean discovery with today’s ocean explorers working together to better understand the vast mysteries of the global ocean,” said RDML Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., USN Ret., Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Deputy NOAA Administrator. “NOAA is forging new partnerships such as the one with OceanX to accelerate our mission to explore and characterize the ocean, understand its key role in regulating our weather and climate, and sustainably manage and use its valuable resources to power the American Blue Economy.”

NOAA’s memorandum of understanding with OceanX is another example of NOAA’s increased effort to create partnerships that help NOAA advance ocean science and new technology, fully map the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone and strengthen the American Blue Economy, which includes maritime commerce, domestic seafood production, healthy and sustainable fisheries, coastal resilience, energy production, tourism and recreation, environmental protection, and national security.

“We are thrilled to partner with NOAA, our nation’s leading science agency, and can think of no more important partner to support our core mission at OceanX, which is to create a global community that is engaged with understanding, enjoying, and protecting our oceans,” said Vincent Pieribone, Vice Chairman and Chief Scientist at OceanX. “We are looking forward to combining the efforts of NOAA’s world-class ocean scientists and OceanX’s science, technology, and media teams to produce critical scientific research and impactful ocean media.”

OceanX was created in 2018 with a mission to explore the ocean and bring it back to the world. OceanX combines next-gen technology, science, and storytelling to educate, inspire, and connect the world with the ocean. OceanX does so by convening leading scientists, media entities, global leaders, and philanthropy partners to drive towards greater understanding and protection of our oceans.

The collaboration will support the recent Presidential Memorandum on Ocean Mapping in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and Shoreline and Near Shore of Alaskaand the goals announced at the November 2019 White House Summit on Partnerships in Ocean Science and Technology.

DreamHost

About OceanX: 
OceanX is a mission to support scientists to explore the ocean and to bring it back to the world through captivating media. Uniting leading media, science, and philanthropy partners, OceanX utilizes next-gen technology, fearless science, compelling storytelling, and immersive experiences to educate, inspire, and connect the world with the ocean and build a global community deeply engaged with understanding, enjoying, and protecting our oceans. OceanX is an initiative of Dalio Philanthropies, which furthers the diverse philanthropic interests of Dalio family members. For more information, visit http://www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on FacebookInstagramTwitter and LinkedIn.

OceanX’s M/V Alucia is a research & exploration vessel boasting the latest in technical diving, filming & scientific research equipment including two deep-dive submersibles. (Credit: OceanX)