Strategic Plan, 2008-2012 >> Part II
Introduction || Part I || Part III

• Playing a leading role in developing the infrastructure necessary for integrated marine processes modeling and measurement
• Exploiting marine animal behavior and ocean phenomena
• Supporting the development of critical technologies needed by the ocean research, educational, and commercial communities
• Conducting research addressing fisheries, aquaculture, and water quality
• Developing food, pharmaceutical, and other commercial products based on marine natural organisms
• Educating our citizenry in the opportunities and challenges associated with continued expansion into the marine realm

Playing a Leading Role in Developing the Infrastructure Necessary for Integrated Marine Processes Modeling and Measurement

• Acoustic communication technology: MIT Sea Grant recognizes considerable technical opportunity in the area of ocean acoustics for communication and naviagation. Signal processing methods that enable reliable communications in the presence of acoustic channel distortion should focus on optimal exploitation of limited communication resources (bandwidth and energy). Research areas of interest include adaptive modulation/detection, efficient coding, array processing, and interference suppression in high-rate links and communication networks. Data compression methods that address sonar, seismic, and video signals are of interest. Maximal compression ratios, together with reliability and power consumption trade-offs must be addressed in the context of underwater sensing and imaging systems' requirements.
• Ease of remote data processing, archiving and distribution: As ocean and marine research becomes more synoptic and spatially expansive, the ability to easily access and visualize data and employ different modeling systems (such as those representing physical, biological, chemical and acoustical ocean phenomena) also becomes more important. This will assist in better oceanic phenomena prediction and improved assessment of natural and anthropogenic effects. Future research in this area includes dynamic data driven simulations combined with dynamic adaptive sampling methodologies and real-time data driven forecast systems in a distributed computing environment.
• Distributed networks and communication protocols: We encourage research that improves access to and enables flexible use of distributed instruments in coastal and deep ocean observatories. Research areas of interest include fundamental networking concepts that will provide the basis for optimal resource allocation in the underwater environments, as well as design of network protocols that specifically address application to ocean observation systems.

Exploiting Marine Animal Behavior and Ocean Phenomena

• Cetacean sonar locating and communication: Much can be learned from continued in-depth study of the sonar capabilities of certain marine life. The ability to locate prey and other creatures of the same species, as well as avoid obstacles in less than ideal conditions via sonar locating and interpretation is of great interest and application for ocean instrumentation and system concepts.

• Biomimesis-Learning from nature: During the last ten years we have supported research in the application of biomimesis-a process by which we design systems using principles employed by living organisms. This research track benefited greatly from the design and evaluation of scale models of fish noted for outstanding speed (the tuna) and for great maneuverability (the pike). New fluid mechanics mechanisms were discovered, governing the sensing and control of unsteady flows to achieve very high performance for marine craft. We are committed to studying the engineering aspects of biomimetics because this program will allow us to engineer AUV-type platforms with fish-like attributes and will help us further understand basic issues related to fisheries.
• Energy from the natural marine environment: Existing renewable sources of energy, such as windmills and solar power, provide energy with minimal impact to the environment. Many marine sources, such as current, tides and waves, can serve equally well as useful energy sources. Future research in this area includes studying the engineering aspects of extracting energy from these marine energy sources, and supporting their application.

Supporting the Development of Critical Technologies Needed by the Oocean Research, Educational, and Commercial communities

• The next generation of AUVs-enhancing capability through improved dexterity and perception: Exploring and working in the ocean remains a priority for the program. To fulfill this ambition, our challenge begins with designing the next generation of autonomous underwater vehicles. Such novel AUV incarnations will include crafts capable of hovering, vehicles that crawl and biomimetic creatures. Expanding the capabilities of these robots requires developing complementary sensing modalities and the required sensor technology, such as chemical and optical sensors, to achieve new mission objectives.
• Navigation and control theory and adaptive behavior: As the range and mission duration of autonomous platforms increase, the requirements of robust control and precise navigation are paramount for successful deployments. We have encouraged recent research efforts in new navigation algorithms that incorporate feature-based learning for an AUV to meet this challenge. Advanced modeling and control concepts are the crux of developing theory that will lead to robots making intelligent decisions on their own while operating in familiar or unknown environments. This research strategy emphasizes the need to further hone the applications of artificial intelligence in underwater robotic systems.
• Turbulence control: Understanding turbulence is one of the great ongoing problems in classical physics and a continuing grand challenge in hydrodynamics. Suppressing turbulence is key to solving a number of important engineering problems including frictional drag reduction in ships, elimination of noise in submarines, enhancement of acoustic communication between underwater vehicles, and efficient maneuvrability of all types of vehicles. A particularly attractive approach that takes advantage of the ocean water's electric conductivity is the use of electromagnetic excitation. Preliminary simulation and experimental work has shown a great promise in this technique but systematic work is required to develop suitable applications for the diverse applications of marine hydrodynamics.

Conducting Research Addressing Fisheries,Aquaculture, and Water Quality

• Address complex issues related to fisheries: MIT Sea Grant is committed to achieving and maintaining sustainability in fisheries and aquaculture through improved engineering of fishing systems, assessments of the economic and social impacts of regulations, increasing our understanding of the ecological significance of fishing and aquaculture, and developing better tools for determining the abundance and behavior of commercially important stocks. We are encouraging research that helps develop a comprehensive program for the successful integration of a commercial aquaculture industry in the Northeast.

• Investigate passive acoustics in fisheries research: The application of passive acoustics to fisheries is an example of an emerging research opportunity that also reflects the more general need for ocean observatories. Passive acoustics offers a unique tool not only to study fish, but also to simultaneously monitor sources of noise pollution and study the impact of man's activities on marine communities. Such research should also aid in management of commercially exploited species, improving techniques for identifying Essential Fish Habitat, and providing non-invasive methods for stock assessment.
• Study coastal water quality and its impact on marine resource: The anthropogenic influences on harbors and coastal waters have been a critical theme both for Sea Grant programs in Massachusetts and throughout the nation. We are maintaining our focus on three important issues: contaminated sediments, non-point source pollution, and marine accident prevention. We will be encouraging scientific, engineering and policy research as it relates to responsible use of the coastal environment.

Developing Food, Pharmaceutical, and Other Commercial Products Based on Marine Natural Organisms

• Foster research in biochemistry and molecular genetics of plants, animals and microorganisms: Such research offers potential use in producing food, pharmaceuticals and chemical products (e.g. emulsifiers for remediation and adhesives); mechanisms of growth and reproductive regulation and control; disease diagnosis and control; and seafood safety.
• Research into marine biology and genetically engineered products: We are supporting research that can lead to improved bioremediation strategies and better characterization of contaminant fates in coastal ecosystems. Biosensors for marine applications could address topics such as monitoring environmental quality parameters of marine ecosystems; in situ sensing for aquaculture quality control and optimization; monitoring and control of biochemical engineering processes; developing new approaches to biosensors using marine biomaterials; process control for the production of natural materials; and antibody-based approaches to biosensing.
• Examining viruses of marine cyanobacteria as agents for marine biotechnology: Marine photosynthetic cyanobacteria are at the base of the oceanic food chain, and are of great importance in global carbon and energy cycles. By characterizing the laboratory growth and molecular biology of viruses of these cyanobacteria, researchers hope to answer important questions about the physiology and biochemistry of their marine cyanobacterial hosts. It is likely that marine viruses will be critical in developing biotechnology tools for marine cyanobacteria, for use in environmental engineering, marine microbiology, and related biotechnology applications. They also may be the source of novel enzymes and proteins of more general use in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Sea Grant is supporting research to develop the biotechnological aspects of these unique organisms.

Educating our Citizenry in the Opportunities and Challenges Associated with Continued Expansion into the Marine Realm

• Promote grade school and high school activities to foster marine awareness: We are drawing on the success of our recent projects in this area and encouraging organizations and individuals to join us in our efforts. This includes our program funded by the National Science Foundation, which gives teachers and students hands-on opportunities in real research, and Adopt-A-Boat, which partners K-12 classrooms throughout New England with fishermen.

• Forge links with local educational institutions for collaborative efforts: We have experienced enthusiastic response from the high schools and educational programs involved in our outreach and education efforts. The willingness of these institutions to support the involvement of their teachers suggests a clear awareness of the need to incorporate hands-on participation by young people in programs that facilitate learning. Two very successful programs in this area include public education with K-12 classes in hands-on aquaculture programs and with middle and high school students in marine robotics. The latter program is in part supported by the Office of Naval Research.
• Effectively communicate our research to the public: Our goal is to effectively and thoughtfully translate science and communicate our research to the public, educators and students, and researchers. We will accomplish this through workshops, symposia, exhibits, print and electronic media, as well as via novel opportunities as these arise.