Dr. Sylvia Earle: An oceanographer and founder of Mission Blue, Dr. Earle has been at the forefront of ocean exploration and conservation. Her Deep Ocean Exploration and Research (DOER) company focuses on technical and operational support for scientific, commercial, and defense-related communities.
Oliver Steeds: The founder and CEO of Nekton, Steeds leads a team dedicated to exploring and conserving the ocean’s depths. Nekton’s missions, supported by cutting-edge tech, aim to accelerate sustainable governance of the world’s oceans.
Ben Kinnaman: As the CEO of Greensea Systems, Kinnaman’s work revolves around improving the relationship between humans and machines at sea. They integrate robotics, autonomous platforms, and advanced navigation systems for better marine operations.
Erika Montague: A marine technologist at the forefront of deep-sea exploration. She has played a pivotal role in developing novel instruments for oceanographic research, including underwater imaging and laser systems.
Brennan Phillips: An ocean engineer focused on creating tools and methods for deep-sea exploration. Phillips’ innovations, such as soft robotic arms for deep-sea manipulations, allow scientists to explore previously unreachable parts of the ocean.
Boris Teillant: Co-founder of Open Ocean Robotics, Teillant uses AI-powered autonomous boats for ocean data collection. His aim is to offer solutions that are both cost-effective and environmentally-friendly for ocean data gathering.
Dr. Jyotika Virmani: Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Dr. Virmani is dedicated to advancing marine research through the development of cutting-edge technologies, such as robotic platforms and deep-sea mapping tools.
John R. Delaney: A pioneer in the use of undersea cabled observatories, Delaney’s work enables real-time, long-term ocean studies. He’s spearheading the OOI (Ocean Observatories Initiative), which integrates advanced sensor systems to monitor the marine environment.
Danielle Dixson: An advocate for marine conservation through technology, Dixson leverages virtual reality (VR) for coral reef exploration. Her work helps bring the magic of underwater realms to a broader audience, emphasizing the importance of their conservation.
Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg: A marine biologist dedicated to researching climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. He’s actively involved in developing new technologies for reef monitoring and has been instrumental in projects using AI and 3D modeling to monitor and restore coral reefs.
