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Dr Peter Girguis, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and Adjunct Oceanographer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, described by his peers as ‘the epitome of a deep-sea explorer’ and ‘a man for all ocean seasons”, has been announced the winner of the 2023 Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration by the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT).

Peter Girguis’ prolific career is dedicated to increasing understanding of the animals and microbes that thrive in the deep sea. His profound dedication lies in advancing deep-sea exploration to expand humanity’s understanding of the natural world. Colleagues have paid tribute to his leadership, attributing it to his capacity for expansive thinking in ocean science – considering what the field requires to flourish and identifying emerging scientific questions.

His primary focus is to understand how marine organisms have adapted to their habitats and how they respond to a changing world. Within his research, his team made groundbreaking discoveries of previously unknown microbe communities that ‘eat’ methane at unprecedented rates, keeping the greenhouse gas out of our atmosphere. His pioneering efforts continued with the development of innovative methods to grow the deep-sea microbes that are responsible to keeping methane out of the atmosphere.

Receiving news of his win he said: “I am deeply honored to be the recipient of this award. I know there are many others who qualify for this recognition, so I view myself as representing all of us, from all backgrounds and walks of life, who have contributed to ocean exploration.

“To paraphrase Captain Walsh, there’s a lot of work left to do in exploring and understanding our ocean, so I will continue to do my part and support as many others as I can on our journey to further understand this ocean world on which we live.”

Educational Commitment

Dr Girguis’ peers also talk of his “deep commitment to supporting scholars from underrepresented groups at Harvard University and beyond by developing and supporting programs that earnestly improve diversity, equity, and inclusion.” To elaborate: “He has collaborated with submersible and ROV operators to establish an expeditionary program with cost-effectiveness, enabling a diverse group of individuals to participate in deep-sea exploration missions. Additionally, he played a key role in co-founding a Harvard/high school internship program, leads diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in ocean sciences in the U.S. and abroad, and works closely with United Nations delegates to promote democratization of ocean sciences around the world.”.

The presentation of the Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration, by Don Walsh, is scheduled to take place at Oceanology International 2024 (London’s ExCeL 12-14 March).

MTS and SUT Presidents share their enthusiasm

MTS President Justin Manley noted: “Dr Girguis is a prominent and key thought leader for the ocean exploration community. His technical contributions are widely recognized and appreciated. Having had the opportunity to spend time with Peter, I can highlight that his passion for the subject is infectious. Peter always shares captivating stories, offers kind words, and greets others with a warm and welcoming smile. The marine technology community feels privileged to have Dr Girguis as one of its esteemed members.”

As SUT’s President, Moya Crawford, said of Dr Girguis’ win: “One of the great strengths of the SUT is its broad coverage and connectivity. Decades of conducting deep water cargo recovery has given me rather more first-hand experience of ‘tubeworms’ (vestimentifans) than most might expect. Therefore, it is my pleasure that this year’s Captain Don Walsh Award goes to Dr Peter Girguis, as a scientist who has brought together the application of technology, with animal physiology and technical ingenuity to recover these amazing creatures to the surface, in order to better understand how they live in what we consider to be such extreme conditions. It is very fitting that his research and endeavour should be marked by this year’s Captain Don Walsh Award.”

Peter Girguis is no stranger to winning awards and accolades. He was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and The Explorer’s Club. He received the Petra Shattuck Excellence in Teaching award, the Lowell Thomas Award for Engineering Exploration, the Lindbergh Foundation Award for Science & Sustainability (microbial fuel cells), the State of California’s Distinguished Community Service Award; and received Discover Magazine’s ‘10 Everyday Technologies That Can Change the World’ (microbe-powered lighting for the developing world.

About Peter Girguis’ work

Further information on Peter Girguis and the lab’s work is at

https://girguislab.oeb.harvard.edu/people/peter-girguis and includes a link to his latest C.V.

Four months ahead of the SUT’s 9^th International OSIG Conference “Innovation Geotechnologies for Energy Transition” (12-14 September at Imperial College London) the Society for Underwater Technology is pleased to announce the new Mick Cook Award for Significant Contribution to Marine Site Investigation. The winner will receive a prize of £1000, a trophy and a certificate.

The SUT’s OSIG Committee (Offshore Site Investigation and Geotechnics) is one of its largest and most active committees with an impressive history of industry conferences, training, and networking events.

Mick Cook, a long-standing member and former Chair of the OSIG 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.”

The inaugural Mick Cook Award for Significant Contribution to Marine Site Investigation and Characterisation will be presented at the upcoming London conference in September 2023.  The Award will be run annually with the presentation at the SUT AGM between the running cycle for the Society’s International OSIG Conference. 

Open to all working in the field of marine site investigations and characterisations globally, details of the full requirements for nominations or applications for the award are available online at https://sut.org/mick-cook-marine-site-investigation-award/

All applications/nominations to be received by 14 August 2023.

“The countdown for nominations from around the globe is on in earnest, the award will recognise significant contribution to geotechnics and geophysics and be open to everyone regardless of where they are in their career,” said SUT’s CEO, Cheryl Burgess. “The SUT and members of the OSIG Committee are excited by Mick’s generosity; which has been welcomed by some of the sector’s key stakeholders – Neil Morgan, Professor Richard Jardine, and Andy Hill.”

Announcing the Award, 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 fulfills 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.”

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Full details on the International OSIG Conference being held 12-14 September 2023 at Imperial College London are at https://tinyurl.com/he85ypfn. Further information on all aspects of the SUT’s work globally and information on membership are at www.sut.org

Using digital technologies to visualize operations and identify uncertainties in order to make better commercial and ESG decisions

We are in a second energy upheaval! The first occurred when the maritime sector changed, simultaneously, from sail to steam and wood to iron. The London market in the form of Lloyds responded to this. Today, in a very similar frenzy, this time to achieve ‘Net Zero’, the technologies may be very different, but insurance and investment market-need and human nature remain very much the same.

Karen Seath, Lead Blue Economic Ecosystem at the D’Arcy Thompson Simulator Centre, based at St Andrews University explained: “Insurance and indemnity are two crucial enablers of investment in innovation and change, yet those involved may not be able to adequately determine residual uncertainty due to the novelty.

“Evermore accessible visualization and simulation tools and techniques now make it possible for underwriters, P&I Clubs to be brought in at an early stage, alongside investors, using virtual assets placed within the intended operational setting, when there is still the time, money and appetite to make the changes that would make the difference between them coming on board, or not. What is being re-kindled in this initiative is a proven, commercial symbiosis.”

The free SustainaVerseTM Afternoon Workshop taking place at Lloyds Lab in The Lloyds Building, Lime Street, London on Tuesday 16 May (12:00-15:30) aims to provide a solution.

The D’Arcy Thompson Simulator Centre as a provider of sustainability assurance, the London City Branch of the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) as a learned society, Beazley as underwriters, the Waves Group as warranty surveyors working in maritime and oil and gas, and IQ3 Connect, providers of a collaborative VR platform, are holding the event at Lloyds Lab to explore how A CANVAS (Abstraction, Calculation, Analysis, modelliNg, Visualization, Animation and Simulation) can help ensure that test design is complete, and residual risk adequately identified.

Aimed at Underwriters, P&I Clubs, Sustainable, Responsible Impact+ Investors+, Brokers, Lawyers, Technology Providers, Operators and Owners, Members of the SUT, and Members and Associates of the International Salvage Union (ISU), the workshop will feature two short presentations covering electricity generation scenarios and ESG. A hands-on exercise using collaborative VR, will then be followed by examples of where Visualization and Simulation has informed academic research, operations, and spatial planning.

As Moya Crawford, President of the SUT, said: “The SUT is delighted to be involved in this event. Our aim, as a multidisciplinary learned society, is to bring together organisations and individuals with a common interest in sustainability, responsibility and impact, alongside our traditional areas of underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering. Introducing the latest digital technologies in tandem with creating thinking around classification, places our London City Branch at the heart of debate and knowledge-sharing around global ‘net zero’ challenges”.

To register to attend this free event, please go to the SUT’s Events Page: at sut.org/event/sustainaverse-afternoon-workshop/ or contact Karen Seath at: [email protected]

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The Society for Underwater Technology’s (SUT’s) International Panel on Underwater Robotics has announced that nominations/applications are now welcome for the Gwyn Griffiths Underwater Robotics Award (GGURA) at https://sut.org/gwyn-griffiths-underwater-robotics-award-ggura/. The deadline for entries is 1 May 2023.

The GGURA 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, a certificate, and an engraved award.

Neil Bose, 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.“

While 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.“

Nominations or applications for the 2023 GGURA must consist of the following documents.

• 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 citation or appraisal of the candidate’s research describing their contributions in a way easily understandable to those outside the discipline
• A curriculum vitae

So far there have been two winners of the GGURA, both can be heard on the ‘Underwater Technology Podcast’. The winner of the inaugural GGURA in 2021, Aleksandra Tomaszek MBA, 1 CSI Ltd Co-founder & COO, Strategic Subsea Business Partner can be heard at https://tinyurl.com/y3k7bmb3; while 2022 winner Rustom Jehangir, Founder and CEO at Blue Robotics can be heard at https://tinyurl.com/2cbs5m73

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• The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) and Astrimar join forces to provide their popular training course as an online virtual course 14-17 March 2023
• Aimed at engineers on both sides of the energy transition – oil and gas and offshore renewables

Innovation and technology are key to any industry’s success – this has never been more true as we face the challenges of achieving the energy transition to Net Zero. Confidence in technology can be a barrier to investment and its acceptance into the market. Effective technology qualification can help address and overcome these barriers

Having run a series of popular ‘in person’ courses together, SUT and Astrimar have collaborated to bring their ‘Qualification of New Technology’ course to a wider global virtual energy industry audience. The course is aimed at engineers, at any stage of their careers, who are involved in the development of new technology or who need to accommodate new or existing technology in new or more challenging applications. Importantly examples will be drawn both from traditional subsea technologies and state of the art net-zero technology solutions.

The new virtual training course (14-17 March 2023 – 09:30-13:00 GMT) grasps this nettle, with leading energy industry experts, providing an overview of industry best practice for qualification of technology and how to select and design appropriate testing and analysis regimes to demonstrate functionality, reliability and durability for novel and modified technologies..

A combination of presentations, discussions and group break-out sessions will be used and will cover:

• The Technology Qualification Process
• Defining Qualification Goals and Requirements
• Use of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)
• Types of testing and analysis to support qualification at each TRL
• Qualification of extended/modified technology
• Application of FMECA for technology qualification
• Techniques for demonstrating technology confidence and reliability
• Residual technical risk and uncertainty
• Qualification assurance

David Saul, chair of the SUT training committee explained: “We are delighted to widen our audience and bring this important topic to the fore. Technology qualification is a demonstration process that forms a key part of technology verification and validation. Its aim is to provide evidence and confidence that the new technology, so vital to the sectors in which our members serve, meets the necessary function and performance requirements, that it is reliable for the intended service and life, and that any risks to its operation are well understood and managed.

“Importantly it is also key to enabling new technologies that replace existing technologies as they need to be able to demonstrate that they are as good or better that the existing technology. The assurance that can be gained from adopting these best practices are key to enabling successful technology deployment and commercialisation.”

Further information and booking details, including SUT member discount, are available here.

Wednesday 1 February sees the Society for Underwater Technology’s (SUT’s) Offshore Wind Renewable Energy virtual course make a welcome comeback. This two-morning course is designed for professional non-engineers who would benefit from understanding the offshore wind energy industry; and engineers and technical staff who are new to this sector or making a transition from another industry.

Held in association with Cranfield University the course on 1 and 2 February builds on the SUT’s international reputation for ocean and marine engineering and science training; and is delivered over two online interactive 4-hour sessions by industry and academic experts from BP, Cranfield University, Partrac, GUH, MarineSpace, MCL Consultancy; the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and St Jules.

 Topics covered over the two mornings Include:

• Wind and the Net Zero Challenge including Deepwater Floating Potential
• Planning, Environmental Studies, and Approvals
• Metocean/Weather: UK and NW Europe Focus including Deepwater for Floating Technology
• Fixed Bottom Offshore Structure Design and Integrity
• Offshore Site Investigation and Seabed Site Foundations
• Construction
• Cables
• Floating Wind
• Completion, Post Installation, and Ongoing Operation

 In looking forward to welcoming delegates from around the globe on 1 and 2 February, Cheryl Burgess, SUT’s CEO, explained: “The virtual course was created during the pandemic and proved extremely successful, with delegates from all over the world joining in and benefiting not only from our splendid speakers, but the 30-minutes before and after the morning session which enabled them to ask questions and begin networking with each other and with speakers. We are looking forward to welcoming people from home and overseas for two stimulating and highly informative sessions.”

Further information

Further information on the course and registration is at https://tinyurl.com/yewtv3k3

Course costs and SUT membership

The course costs £375 (plus VAT where applicable) for SUT Members (EEEGR, OES, IMCA and EIC members will also benefit from the discounted member price); The Non-Member charge is £465 (plus VAT where applicable). CPD Credits will be available.

SUT membership information is at https://sut.org/sut-membership/. The SUT membership year runs from 1 July until 30 June, so currently half rates apply for new members.

Image above: (left to right) Donald Lamont, Moya Crawford and Mensun Bound following the presentation

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The discovery of Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Endurance, an incredible feat of subsea engineering and specialist expertise, took centre stage at the recent Annual General Meeting of the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) along with news of the election of a new Fellow of the learned society and the presentation of the Alan Greig Memorial Prize.

After the formal proceedings, marine archaeologist and author, Mensun Bound and Donald Lamont, Chair of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (FMHT) were each presented with the SUT President’s Award by the SUT’s President, Moya Crawford.

As she explained:

“The story of Shackleton, Frank Worsley, and the rest of the crew of the Endurance remains an inspiration to people around the globe over a hundred years after her loss. I can think of no better team of people to find her and re-kindle this story than Mensun Bound and his friends and colleagues from the FMHT.

“For this prestigious award from the SUT to go to the Southern Ocean, to mark the discovery of such an iconic wreck, lying in  3000 metres water depth, beneath the ice brings modern elements of determination, teamwork and endeavour to the fore, giving us all inspiration and it is my privilege to present the President’s Award to mark such an outstanding achievement.”

Falklands-born Mensun Bound the Expedition Director of Exploration and a Trustee of the FMHT responded saying that the Award was unexpected and that he was overwhelmed and extremely grateful. He emphasised that it was: “a team effort from beginning to end” a theme repeated by Donald Lamont who, speaking on behalf of the FMHT, said how delighted and honoured he was saying:

“The project emphasises that teamwork involving people using up-to-date technology in the most challenging of environments brings success” and adding: ““I consider it a matter of pride that an outstanding team can achieve such an incredible result.”

Mensun Bound then spoke about the two expeditions in 2019 and 2022 to discover ‘Endurance’ the story of which is told in his new book ‘The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance’, with Nico Vincent of Deep Ocean Search (DOS), who was manager-in-charge of all equipment preparation, testing and training ashore and all subsea operations and related topside activities at sea on Endurance22, explaining the numerous technical achievements.

In his book Mensun gives a blow-by-blow account of the two dramatic expeditions, the Weddell Sea Expedition and Encurance22, to find ‘Endurance’. As with Shackleton, Bound too experienced failure and despair, and at times his own ship was on the cusp of being frozen in ice, much like Endurance.

As one of the world’s foremost experts on the ‘Endurance’ his book includes previously untold stories of Shackleton’s epic survival and fascinating details about his iconic ship. It also includes numerous photos from the original expedition in 1914-17, as well as from the wreck on the seafloor.”

Other presentations – one new Fellow and the presentation of the Alan Greig Prize

Nick McNaughton: was is a newly elected Fellow of the SUT for ‘Services to the Perth (Australia) Branch’, as the citation explained:

“Over the last 13 years Nick, through direct involvement with the Society’s Perth branch has assisted it in moving forward through tough times by taking on a number of sub-committee positions including Branch Secretary, working on Branch Strategy, Scholarships, YES!, training courses, involvement in the AGM and Annual Dinner.  His direct and on-going support has directly assisted the Branch in achieving SUT goals and member engagement.”

The Alan Greig Memorial Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Commercial Operational Oceanography was awarded to Roger Scrivens who was presented with the Ekman Meter, first awarded in 2006 following Alan’s death in 2004.

As he accepted the award, Roger Scrivens paid tribute to Alan Greig:

“My delight at receiving the Alan Greig Memorial Prize has obvious grateful overtones of professional recognition from my peers but above that is the personal aspect. Alan Greig, believed to be the UK’s first ever ‘commercial oceanographer’, was a very intelligent, humble, knowledgeable, diligent and professional man. For me he was also a wonderful family man, a trusted friend and a very reliable business partner. Taken too soon in his mid-fifties, he was a great loss to the world of operational oceanography and a great loss to me.”

During his long career Alan Greig worked for Imcos Marine, Hunting Surveys, Space Technology Systems and co-founded InstallOcean Ltd.  The prize was established in recognition of Alan’s outstanding contribution to commercial operational oceanography.

Commercial operational oceanography has grown to be a significant area of enterprise with companies offering a wide range of products and services to meet an ever-increasing range of applications. For example, it is critical to the offshore oil and gas sector where drilling and production are taking place in ever deeper waters and in ever more hostile environments such as the Arctic. In order to conduct these and other operations safely, economically, and in an environmentally acceptable way it is crucial to be able to measure, understand and predict the ocean environment. Many pioneering organisations have emerged to deliver commercial products and services tuned to meeting the specific needs of those who operate in the marine environment.

Further information on all aspects of the SUT’s work and details on all categories of membership are at www.sut.org

Mensun Bound (photo credit: Macmillan Publishers).

This year’s discovery of Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Endurance, an incredible feat of subsea engineering and specialist expertise, and the recent publication of ‘The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance’ were reasons enough for The Society for Underwater Technolgy (SUT) to invite its author, marine archaeologist Mensun Bound, to speak, in London on 6 December, at their Annual General Meeting.

Book your place now.

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Falklands-born Mensun Bound, the Expedition Director of Exploration, a Trustee of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, and discoverer of the Scharnhorst of Admiral Graf Von Spee will take part in a ‘fireside chat’ with the SUT’s President, Moya Crawford and take audience questions once the formal procedures at the meeting have been concluded; and be signing copies of the book (published by Macmillan and available for purchase) at the end of the meeting.

Moya Crawford explained: “The timing of the publication of ‘The Ship Beneath the Ice’ is fortuitous; and there could be no better speaker than Mensun Bound to describe the role that subsea engineering and specialist services played in discovering Endurance in March this year. This was over a hundred years after she sank 3,000 metres down in the Weddell Sea in what Shackleton himself called ‘the most hostile sea on earth’.  We are honoured that Mensun will be joining us on 6 December.

“In the book he gives a blow-by-blow account of the two dramatic expeditions, the Weddell Sea Expedition and Encurance22, to find ‘Endurance’. As with Shackleton, Bound too experienced failure and despair, and at time his own ship was on the cusp of being frozen in ice, much like Endurance.

“As one of the world’s foremost experts on the ‘Endurance’ his book includes previously untold stories of Shackleton’s epic survival and fascinating details about his iconic ship. It also includes numerous photos from the original expedition in 1914-17, as well as from the wreck on the seafloor.”

The SUT AGM will be held on the evening of 6 December at the Institute of Physics, in London. Free preferential booking is now open for Members, Non-Members, and SUT Member guests (£30). Those planning to attend are asked how many copies of the book they would be interested in buying in order to ensure that sufficient stock is available.

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‘The standard of entries for the SUT’s Gwyn Griffiths Award for Underwater Robotics was extremely competitive this year, and the nominees of high calibre, which challenged the judges to select this year’s winner,’ said Neil Bose, Chair of SUT’s Underwater Robotics Panel, and Vice President (Research), Memorial University, Newfoundland and Labrador’s University. ‘On behalf of the Panel, the judges and SUT we would like recognise the talent, innovation and qualities of all the entrants working in underwater robotics.’

The Panel is delighted to announce the winner of the GGURA, Rustom Jehangir from Blue Robotics Inc in Torrance, California.

On being informed of the Award, Rustom said, “Wow! I’m honoured and humbled to receive this award bearing Gwyn Griffiths’ name, given all that he accomplished and contributed to the field of marine robotics. ‘I consider this award to be an honour for my whole team.”

Getting to know Rustom we asked:

What inspired your interest in subsea engineering?

I went to school for mechanical and aerospace engineering and was initially interested in drone aircraft. I worked in that field for several years at a start-up company developing a large multicopter helicopter for military applications. While doing that, I stumbled into subsea engineering. At the time (around 2013), a friend and I were both looking for a fun robotics project to do on the weekends and decided that we would make a solar-powered robotic surfboard that could cross the ocean. We thought we could achieve that on a small budget and we dreamt of sending it from California to Hawaii, a trip that would take several months at the slow pace we could maintain with solar power.
We started working on this project and we found all of the components that we needed, like the solar panels, GPS, microcontroller, and satellite radio, but struggled to find thruster motors to propel it. We could only find very inexpensive options that wouldn’t survive for long in the ocean, and very expensive options designed for military-grade applications. We scoured the internet for options and couldn’t find anything, but we did find a lot of other people looking for the same thing. Some of them were on robotics teams and some were hobbyists. At that moment we decided to solve that problem and design an affordable, capable thruster for marine robotics that anyone could use. We were successful and launched Blue Robotics through a Kickstarter campaign in 2014!
So, to answer your question, I was initially inspired by our solar surfboard project and then jumped headfirst into subsea engineering by starting a company. At the time I had no experience with subsea engineering and had to learn quickly! Eight years later, we have made over 70,000 thrusters and have a team of 55 people designing and building a wide range of products that enable marine robotics applications.

How did you become involved in robotics?

I’ve been interested in robotics since I was young. I watched a recorded documentary about the AUVSI International Aerial Robotics Competition (IARC) many times and dreamed of being a robotics engineer someday. I got actively involved in university when I joined an IARC team. We never actually competed, but it re-sparked my interest and taught me many of the basics.

What advice would you give to someone interested in a career in this field?

Great question! I have a few pieces of advice. (1) Expose yourself to a diversity of experiences and classes to be well-rounded. This is particularly important in robotics because it doesn’t fall into any of the traditional mechanical, electrical, or software paths, but rather into all of them. I took software engineering courses in school and learned electrical engineering on the job and it was critical for my current role. And (2), don’t feel excluded from this industry if you’re not an engineer or scientist – we need people of all different backgrounds and specialties. We have engineers designing our products, but we also have marketing team members, assembly technicians, human resources, graphic design, and many more. All of those skills and expertise are necessary to our business and contribute to our mission.

Any advice on innovation and starting your own company?

Yes, my biggest piece of advice on this is to find a “blue ocean market” in which to start your business. Let me explain that. What I often see with people starting companies is that they look at the market and existing successful companies and they try to imitate them or do things a little bit better than them to capture market share. You shouldn’t be looking for who you want to compete with but, rather, you should look for holes in the market where there is a need but no competition at all. This is a “blue ocean market” and it’s much easier to start a company if you can find a space like that to work in. We found this with our original thruster product. There were no similar products at the time but there were many interested customers. We didn’t have to compete with anyone – we just opened up new market possibilities. I encourage you to try to do the same.

What’s next for you and Blue Robotics?

We’re eight years into our journey and I’m having more fun than ever! I truly believe in our core mission of making affordable, capable components and systems to enable people to do more with marine robotics and we’re going to keep doing that. We’ve learned a lot and we can keep doing it better and better. The ocean is a big place and there’s a lot of room to grow and a lot of opportunities.