CONVERGENCE: For Science & Technology Policymakers and Practitioners

The award, presented by the Joint Oceanographic Institution under the National Science Foundation-sponsored Ocean Observation Initiative, positions the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as team leader in a partnership with the University of California’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Oregon State University. The University of Massachusetts system, in particular the campuses in Boston, Dartmouth, and Amherst, will be an important local collaborative partner. In addition, Raytheon will serve as an industry partner, helping to provide project management support.

To help secure the federal research award, the John Adams Innovation Institute, the economic development arm of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, made a $10 million matching state investment, which proved to be a critical factor in winning the award, according to those involved.

Patrick Larkin, the director of the Innovation Institute, praised the leadership of Gov. Deval Patrick in taking a long-term approach to economic development. Describing the important economic impact of the federal money, Larkin told The Cape Cod Times: “This is a long-term view because it won't just attract a company, it'll grow a whole sector,” he said. “In five or ten years, this kind of investment will attract 10,000 to 20,000 jobs.”

The new ocean observation systems will transform what Breck Owens, a senior scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, called a “data-starved science” in a revolutionary manner, allowing scientists to continuously monitor the ocean over time and space. Owens, who has worked at the ocean research center since 1975, helped design some of the new technological tools. He stood much like a proud parent over the spray glider, a robotic underwater submarine, and a Remote Environmental Monitoring Unit, or REMUS, which were on display on the dock at the news conference, explaining how they worked.

According to Owens, the spray gliders can be directed to carry out missions lasting as long as six months in duration, and then be directed, by laptop computer, to return to an undersea mooring to recharge their batteries.

When combined with the Nootka Buoy, which performs as a wireless hotspot in the middle of the ocean, these technological tools become part of what is called a Pioneer Array. It combines traditional research mooring technology with advanced robotics, communications and instrumentation to collect ocean data scientists have never had access to before. Instead of taking prolonged ocean voyages to retrieve the data, information will be available instantaneously.

The anticipated economic, social, and environmental impacts of improved accuracy of predictions by such an ocean observation are profound. They include:

As a steady stream of passenger ferries from Martha’s Vineyard pulled in and out of the busy steamship authority port behind them, a parade of dignitaries at the news conference testified to the economic and scientific importance of the new federal research award.

Dr. Holly Given from the Joint Oceanographic Institution, who officially announced the research award, praised the partnership created to “develop, install, and operate” the world’s first global ocean observation system.
Lt. Gov. Tim Murray acknowledged and thanked many supporters in helping to secure the federal research award, including Gov. Patrick, Senate President Murray, the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, the state legislators, MTC’s John Adams Innovation Institute, and the University of Massachusetts.
U.S. Rep. William Delahunt declared that the “information revolution” had finally come to the ocean, so that scientific work could be done in real time. Further, he said that it was an exciting time for the region in terms of economic development. Citing the $80 billion marine science and technology industry cluster in New England, he said, “This region may soon be known as the ‘Buzzards Bay Rim.’”
Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles spoke about the enormous environmental and economic dividends, “deepening our understanding of the oceans and how to protect its riches for generations to come.”
Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Daniel O’Connell congratulated the leadership of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for its vision. He also thanked the collaborative spirit of the University of Massachusetts, recognizing both President Jack Wilson, and Dartmouth Chancellor Jean MacCormack, who were in attendance.
James R. Luyten, Acting President and Director of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, talked about the importance of the new science capability, which will enable researchers to study the ocean in three dimensions and in time, promising that the new ocean observation system will revolutionize ocean science.
State Rep. Eric Turkington called the new ocean observation system a “high-tech engine for the new innovation economy,” enabling Massachusetts to become a leader in the environmental technology and stewardship for the Northeast. He cited the work of a new Innovation Accelerator being developed in Falmouth to translate the promise of research discoveries into new businesses and products. He also thanked Massachusetts House Speaker Sal DiMasi and his legislative aide for their leadership in supporting state investment in research.
Mitch Adams, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, said the federal award was one of a number of new achievements for the state, including the selection of the Commonwealth as the site for a federal wind-blade testing facility, and the decision by Evergreen Solar to build its new production facility in Massachusetts.

All the speakers seemed to concur that with the new federal award, Massachusetts is officially a major hub for oceanographic research. The infrastructure of the new ocean observation system will establish Massachusetts, and specifically Cape Cod and Southeastern Massachusetts, as a cornerstone for critical information related to the ocean.

Equally important, said Robert Kispert, Director of Federal and University Programs with MTC’s John Adams Innovation Institute, is the fact that winning this federal research award will leverage additional opportunities to capture a greater share of the existing world-wide markets related to ocean and marine activities, estimated to be worth more than $1 trillion annually.

“Massachusetts, because of its global leadership of its academic research institutions in marine science and technology, is in a strong position to capture its disproportional fair share of these economic benefits, Kispert said.