Old Dominion University (ODU) made waves at the Oceans 2024 Conference in Nova Scotia, introducing its new School of Supply Chain, Logistics, and Maritime Operations (SSCLMO). This event wasn’t just a launch—it was a statement. ODU solidified its role as a Maritime Administration Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, partnering with the Maritime Institute. As a Research 1 University, ODU’s commitment to maritime research and education took center stage.
The conference’s theme, “Aligning Diverse Communities for Tomorrow’s Ocean,” set the tone for collaboration in ocean science, engineering, and technology. ODU’s associate vice president for maritime initiatives, Elspeth McMahon, saw this as a golden opportunity. “The conference provided an excellent platform to showcase ODU’s achievements in maritime research, outreach, and industry partnerships,” McMahon said. She, along with political science and geography professor Tom Allen and Jerry Cronin, the executive director of the Open Seas Technology Innovation Hub, led a tutorial on “The Role of Outreach and Education in Achieving the Full Potential of Ocean Technologies.” This session tackled the evolving societal, economic, technological, and environmental needs in ocean education. They highlighted ODU’s extensive outreach initiatives, including internships, academic-industry partnerships, and specialized seminars. A key focus was advancing ocean geospatial education, emphasizing the application of geospatial technology in coastal and marine environments.
ODU’s innovations didn’t stop there. Cong Wei, an assistant professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Department, presented a project aimed at enhancing ocean current measurement using a network of floats. This method promises to improve the accuracy of current velocity estimates without relying on sophisticated sensors. Wei, along with associate professor Krishnanand Kaipa and Alexander Bochdansky from the Department of Oceanography and Earth Sciences, also developed a prototype tether profiler for researching methane seeps in deep water. Kaipa, the principal investigator, presented another groundbreaking project: a robotic quadrotor-float for ocean exploration tasks. This initiative, which began in 2021, involved undergraduate students who developed and tested underwater vessels. The current prototype aims to detect methane seeps at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods, which can reach $200,000 per day. Bochdansky explained the implications of this development and outlined the next steps for further testing.
ODU’s presentations at the Oceans 2024 Conference underscored significant advancements in maritime research, education, and technology. The institution is positioning itself as a leader in addressing contemporary challenges in the blue economy and enhancing opportunities in ocean-related fields. This isn’t just about innovation—it’s about shaping the future of maritime operations and education.