OceanX’s research vessel, OceanXplorer, in the fjords of Norway. (Credit: Andy Mann)

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
June 30, 2021

Nonprofit ocean exploration organization OceanX today announced the launch of the Young Explorers Program (YEP), offering college students from across the nation the opportunity to learn about and explore the ocean aboard OceanX’s marine research and media vessel OceanXplorer. Launching this summer, the program, coordinated by OceanX with partners from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) and Coral Vita, will host 10 participants as they chart largely unexplored areas on the ship’s 12-day voyage from the Azores to Svalbard, Norway.

“At OceanX, we are on a mission to explore the ocean and bring it back to the world, and we believe this must include nurturing and educating the next generation of scientists,” said Mark Dalio, Founder and Creative Director of OceanX. “We are thrilled to announce the Young Explorers Program, which is an opportunity to share our learnings, technologies and passion for the ocean with ten exceptional young students. This program is a great step in ensuring our oceans are understood and protected for generations to come.”

The Young Explorers Program aims to expand access to ocean exploration, foster a new generation of ocean advocates and offer hands-on, immersive instruction to college students pursuing a degree in a related field. Participants will learn from world-class ocean scientists about the ocean genome, the tools and trades of ocean exploration, media and science communication and leadership in the field of exploration.

Experts from NOAA, GMGI and Coral Vita will work in concert with OceanX to shape the program curriculum. GMGI Research Scientist Matt Harke and Teaching Assistant & Lab Technician Che Gardiner will be leading on-board educational lectures and activities centered around discovering the ocean genome. In addition, they will be acting as a resource for the students as they explore careers in oceanography and the STEM fields.

Alannah Vellacott, a Bahamian coral restoration expert with Coral Vita, will be onboard to provide exposure to and discuss Coral Vita’s work creating commercial high-tech coral farms that incorporate breakthrough methods to restore reefs at-scale in the most effective way possible. Alannah will be teaching students about coral reefs critical ecological and socio-economic importance, the threats they face and how Coral Vita grows diverse and resilient coral to preserve ocean health and the welfare of the one billion people who depend on coral reefs.

The Young Explorers class of 2021 are current undergraduate students from colleges and universities across the country including Howard University; Leiden University; Middlebury College; Spelman College; Stanford University; University of California Santa Cruz; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; University of Miami; and Vanderbilt University.

“The Young Explorers Program is an amazing opportunity for young scholars to experience life at sea as both an oceanographer and in the marine trades, training the next generation in ocean stewardship to address the critical challenges facing our oceans and environment,” said GMGI Research Scientist Matt Harke. “We are so thrilled to be a part of this fantastic voyage, to further extend the mission of GMGI to lead in innovative science and education.”

“We are beyond excited for Coral Vita to collaborate with OceanX through Alannah’s participation in the Young Explorers Program,” said Sam Teicher, Co-founder and Chief Reef Officer at Coral Vita. “The ocean and its biodiversity are a source of wonder and inspiration – and maintaining its health is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for the future of humanity. Partnering with leaders like OceanX is a unique opportunity to promote cutting-edge science and empower young people to safeguard the ecosystems that sustain us all, and we’re proud of Alannah’s contribution.”

For media inquiries regarding OceanX, please contact Rida Bint Fozi at  rida@thetascgroup.com.

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 Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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