Ocean Exploration, Mapping, and Characterization in the Blue Economy | American Blue Economy Podcast

September 30, 2021

Charting the course to new ocean opportunities.

In this month's episode, we discuss ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization. We were perfectly prepared for this topic 2 weeks ago when we were thrilled to host none other than Dr. Robert Ballard, world famous ocean explorer and discoverer of the RMS Titanic.  We had an engaging discussion about his recent book Into the Deep, A Memoir by the Man who found Titanic. Today, we will explore the remarkable field of ocean discovery that Bob Ballard helped to advance, and to a greater extent, popularize for current and future generations. Ocean Mapping, Exploration and Characterization has big blue economy implications. Mapping, for example, is critical for fisheries management, offshore energy development, and safe marine transportation. Exploration and characterization support identification of sources for critical minerals, energy, and regions requiring conservation.  Mapping and exploration are also helping us identify our Extended Continental Shelf, an area of nearly 1 million square miles which we hope to add to our EEZ. As with our past episodes, we have a rock star lineup of guests, including:

Show Transcription
This transcription was generated by a computer. Please excuse any errors.
Adm. Tim Gallaudet

Rear Admiral Gallaudet, PhD, USN (ret) is the CEO of Ocean STL Consulting. From 2017-2021, he served as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere / Deputy NOAA Administrator, and from 2017-2019 he also served as the Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere / NOAA Administrator. As Acting Administrator, he led the agency comprised of 20,000 federal employees and contractors managing the nation’s fisheries, coastal resources and waterways, weather satellites, weather services, and environmental research, overseeing a $6B annual budget and daily operations of 18 environmental satellites, 16 oceanographic ships, 9 aircraft, 450 boats, and 400 technical divers, 6 supercomputers, over a dozen laboratories, and several hundred field sites across the country. As the Deputy Administrator, he led NOAA’s Blue Economy activities that advance marine transportation, sustainable seafood, ocean exploration and mapping, marine tourism and recreation, and coastal resilience. Prior to NOAA, Rear Admiral Gallaudet served for 32 years in the US Navy, completing his career as the Oceanographer of the Navy. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the US Naval Academy, and Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, all in oceanography.