Old Dominion University (ODU) made waves at the Oceans 2024 Conference in Nova Scotia, unveiling its new School of Supply Chain, Logistics, and Maritime Operations (SSCLMO). This wasn’t just another academic announcement—it was a bold statement about ODU’s growing clout in maritime research and education, backed by its designation as a Maritime Administration Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education.
The conference, themed “Aligning Diverse Communities for Tomorrow’s Ocean,” underscored the urgent need for collaboration in ocean science, engineering, and technology. For ODU, it was a chance to showcase its commitment to these fields as a Research 1 University, recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Elspeth McMahon, ODU’s associate vice president for maritime initiatives, set the tone, calling the conference “an excellent platform to demonstrate the University’s achievements in maritime research, outreach, and partnerships with industry.” She wasn’t alone in making the case. Alongside political science and geography professor Tom Allen and Jerry Cronin, executive director of the Open Seas Technology Innovation Hub, McMahon 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. The trio highlighted ODU’s extensive outreach initiatives, from internships to academic-industry partnerships and specialized seminars. They emphasized advancing ocean geospatial education, stressing the application of geospatial technology in coastal and marine environments.
But the real stars of the show were the innovative research projects. Cong Wei, an assistant professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 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 showcased a prototype tether profiler designed to research 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 run up to $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 weren’t just about showcasing advancements—they were a call to action. They positioned the institution as a leader in addressing contemporary challenges in the blue economy and enhancing opportunities in ocean-related fields. As the maritime industry grapples with evolving demands, ODU is stepping up, proving that collaboration and innovation are key to navigating the waves of change.