Month: October 2025

Nomination deadline looms for two key SUT awards

  • Underwater Robotics and Marine Site Investigation in the spotlight

The 31 October deadline draws close for two key Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) awards – the Gwyn Griffiths Underwater Robotics Award and the Mick Cook Marine Site Investigation Award.

The Gwyn Griffiths Underwater Robotics Award

The Gwyn Griffiths Underwater Robotics Award, established in 2021 recognises people in the early to mid-stages of their career (and under 40 years old) who have made outstanding contributions to their field in underwater robotics. The award may be for industry/commercial, research and/or creative activity in underwater robotics. The winner will receive £500 and a certificate.

Previous winners are Aleksandra Tomaszek MBA, 1 CSI Ltd Co-founder & COO, Strategic Subsea Business Partner; Rustom Jehangir, Founder and CEO at Blue Robotics; and Jonas Wüst, CEO & Co-Founder of Tethys Robotics. 

The Mick Cook Marine Site Investigation Award

The Mick Cook Marine Site Investigation Award. (established in 2023) is open to all working in the field of marine site investigations and characterisations globally, regardless of where they are in their career, the award recognises industry professionals who have made a significant contribution to Marine Site Investigation and Characterisation, covering the broad disciplines of Geophysics and Geotechnics. The winner will receive £1000 and a certificate.

Previous winners are Geotechnical Consultant Tor Inge Tjelta and Philippe Jeanjean, Senior Advisor, Geotechnical Engineering at bp.

Further information on both awards and entry forms are  https://sut.org/about-the-sut/sut-awards/.

Entry criteria are the same for each of the much-coveted awards:

  • A letter of nomination or application that describes how the candidate meets the criteria.
  • The letter should be no more than two pages in length. Supporter(s) of the nomination/ application may add their signature to this letter or supply an email that indicates their support for the candidate
  • A 100-word summary or appraisal of the candidate’s research describing their contributions in a way easily understandable to those outside the discipline
  • A curriculum vitae

”We urge members and non-members alike from all over the world to get to work with their entries, which can be self-nominated or from colleagues or friends. The awards will be announced at the SUT AGM on 4th December in London. Presentations to the winners will be made to fit in with the Awardee’s movements and in conjunction with SUT event attendance, such as at Oceanology International 2026 next March in London, or All-Energy next May in Glasgow,” explained Cheryl Burgess, SUT’s CEO. 

“We are extremely grateful to both Gwyn Griffiths and Mick Cook for their generosity in founding these awards, the focus they have highlighted on the disciplines of underwater robotics and offshore site investigations and geophysics/geosciences. We look forward to a great many high-level nominations.”

The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) is a multidisciplinary learned society that brings together organisations and individuals with a common interest in underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering. It was founded in 1966 and has members from more than 40 countries, including engineers, scientists, other professionals, and students working in these areas. In recent decades many SUT members have come from the offshore hydrocarbon sector, today there are growing numbers of members from offshore renewables, marine autonomous systems, and the policy, law and insurance sectors who support offshore activities of many kinds.

Corporate, individual and student membership is available. Full information on the Learned Society, including membership details is at https://sut.org//

Background to the awards

The Gwyn Griffiths Underwater Robotics Award

When this award was created, Neil Bose, past Chair of the Panel on Underwater Robotics stated: “Members of the Panel on Underwater Robotics were excited by Professor Gwyn Griffiths’ generosity in supporting this award and were especially enthusiastic that it should be an early to mid-career award to encourage the up-and-coming generation of underwater robotics workers in their careers.“

And Gwyn Griffiths MBE, a Past President of the SUT added: “As a vibrant, forward-looking learned Society the SUT is at the forefront of encouraging and facilitating international cooperation in Underwater Robotics. From my own career, I know that peer recognition of achievements through an international Award can make a substantial and lasting difference. These have been times for reflection, and by enabling this new Underwater Robotics Award I am delighted to support the innovators of today and tomorrow.“

The Mick Cook Marine Site Investigation Award

When the award being his name was launched, Mick Cook, a long-standing member and former Chair of the OSIG (Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics) Committee, as well as being a Past Treasurer and Council Member of the SUT, explained the reasons behind the new SUT Award: “From my own lengthy and rewarding career and involvement with SUT’s OSIG Committee I know the value and importance of peer-recognition of achievements and contributions through an International Award can make to both individuals and industry.” 

“I am delighted to be able to sponsor this Award and support all those who contribute to the field of geotechnics and geophysics from yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

Members of the OSIG Committee and some of the sector’s key stakeholders and award panel members  Neil Morgan, Professor Richard Jardine, and Andy Hill. Aired their views:

Neil Morgan, Chair SUT, OSIG Committee and Lloyd’s Register, Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Technical Support Office, Marine & Offshore said: “The launch of this award is welcome news. It will encourage those working in the offshore geoscience industry to develop what will be needed in the future. The energy transition means we will see ever-increasing demands for marine site investigation and characterisation. This will be against a background of shortages of skilled resources and equipment to perform the work and interpret the results.”

“The resource constraint means getting the maximum value from data will be essential and it will also be essential that the data acquired can be applied to large scale developments with rapid project timelines. Innovation and creativity will be needed to ensure the offshore geoscience community fulfils the future needs of offshore energy stakeholders in a reliable and cost-effective way.”

Richard Jardine FREng, FICE, FCGI, Professor of Geomechanics, College Proconsul, Imperial College London explained: “The creation of a new SUT Award, funded by Mick Cook, to recognise each year a particularly Significant Contribution to Marine Site Investigation or Characterisation, covering the broad disciplines of Geophysics and Geotechnics represents a highly encouraging, positive and timely development.

“Mick has made his own important contributions through a long career in these fields, taking part in developments that are proving crucial in realising successfully the imperative international drive towards low cost, low carbon, energy.”

“Mick’s unstinting work with the SUT Offshore Site Investigations and Geotechnics (OSIG) committee, their guidance notes, short courses and internationally leading conferences has been one of the factors behind the UK’s excellence and prominence in the practical, industrial, scientific and academic aspects of geotechnical engineering for sustainable offshore energy production.”

While Andy Hill, Marine Geohazards Technical Authority – S&ORA, BP America added

“News of this award is very timely as the importance in the delivery of efficient and effective Integrated Offshore Site Characterization has rarely been as important as it is now.”

“Mick Cook has been directly involved in the development of offshore site investigation rationale over the past forty years in projects around the world. For much of this time he has been involved with the Offshore Site Investigation Committee of the SUT and a driving force behind a number of its outputs – most recently the Guideline Document for the Planning and Execution of Geophysical and Geotechnical Ground Investigations for Offshore Renewables which is an important resource in supporting the development of staff entering this sector.

“This award will go further in encouraging staff to make their mark in the industry over the next decade by continuing to push technology and technique forwards.”

Oliver Steeds Announced as Winner of the 2025 Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration

Oliver Steeds OBE, Chief Executive of Nekton has been announced by the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) as the 2025 winner of the Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration.

The Award is made: “In honour of your outstanding, sustained, international contribution to the development, application and propagation of marine technology toward the advancement of ocean exploration”. The presentation of the Award will take place on the opening day of Oceanology International London (Oi) 10-12 March 2026 at London Excel.

Justin Manley, MTS Immediate Past President said: “Oliver Steeds exemplifies Captain Don Walsh’s spirit of exploration through his pioneering leadership and unique ability to unite science, technology, and storytelling. His work with Nekton and Ocean Census is expanding our understanding of the ocean while elevating its vital role in our world. By bridging discovery, innovation, and education, Oliver is helping to shape the next generation of ocean stewards. MTS is proud to honor his profound impact on the future of ocean exploration.”

Benj Sykes, President of the SUT, and Chair of the selection panel, explained: “The judging panel agreed that Oliver’s ongoing work with Nekton, Ocean Census and Encounter.EDU is completely aligned with Don Walsh’s vision for the future of ocean exploration and its importance in raising awareness of critical ocean issues, contributing to addressing the solution of crucial scientific, technological, societal and environmental challenges. His close links to Don Walsh make it even more fitting that he receives this year’s Award. SUT wishes him well for all that lies ahead.”

Oliver was awarded OBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for services “to Research and Conservation of the Marine Environment”. On hearing the news of the Don Walsh Award, he said: “I am immensely proud of what we at Nekton have achieved to be considered for this recognition. The Award brings wind in our sails as we continue our mission to explore and protect the ocean. Don Walsh has long been my North Star – his guidance helped shape the creation of Nekton, from our name to our DNA. It is profoundly humbling to receive an award that bears his name, and we remain committed to following his spirit, always swimming against the current.”

Background to Oliver Steeds’ activities

Nekton is an ocean institute, a UK registered charity dedicated to advancing the scientific exploration of the ocean through expeditions, story-telling, knowledge exchange and education. It is a founding partner of The Ocean Census (a UN Ocean Decade programme also co-founded by The Nippon Foundation and supported by MTS’s MoU partner Seabed 2030). The Ocean Census mission is to accelerate the discovery of ocean life – aiming to utilise cutting-edge technologies including DNA sequencing, high-resolution digital imaging, and machine learning to fulfil an ambitious goal of transforming our knowledge of ocean life over the next decade.

Oliver is also co-founder of Encounter.EDU (see https://encounteredu.com/) which brings the frontlines of our changing world to the classroom. Nekton works with Encounter.EDU to deliver a submarine STEM programme, inspiring young people to learn about subsea engineering and the wonder of, and threats to, the ocean.

Oliver made his name as a respected international investigative and broadcast journalist before his fascination for exploration and stewardship of the global ocean became his driving passion. Although not a scientist or technologist by training, he has played an instrumental role in connecting ocean scientific and technological advances to raising awareness of the importance of the ocean and ocean health, delivering compelling story telling about critical ocean issues to policy makers, the general public, and most importantly, to young people.

This has involved the adoption of novel technological approaches to the capture and live transmission of video from submersibles in the deep sea – including news casts, documentaries a Presidential address and live lessons from some of the most remote locations on the planet. His organisational and communications skills have brought together over 100 partners from across the science, technology, policy and educational communities to advance the critical need to protect the critical ecosystem services that the ocean provides.

He has trained as a submersible pilot with Triton Submarines and, as the serving Director of The Ocean Census, is active in supporting the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, with a particular interest in supporting the science needs of small island developing states.


Caption: Oliver Steeds, winner of the 2025 Captain Don Walsh Ocean Exploration Award