OceanGate Launches Local Science Expeditions
“Citizen Scientists” to Study Puget Sound Using Underwater Robots
EVERETT, WASHINGTON (April 12, 2010) - Exploring Puget Sound using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)—an experience once available only to a small group of scientists—is now accessible to anyone looking for the thrill of scientific discovery. OceanGate today announced its first marine research missions giving “citizen scientists” the opportunity to explore the diverse and exciting undersea, using some of the most advanced robotics in the field of oceanic research.
Fulfilling its goal to open the world’s unexplored oceans to those inspired by deep-sea discovery, OceanGate will train non-scientists to pilot ROVs on missions to support local scientific research in fields like marine archeology, oceanography, and marine biology.
“We are quite fortunate to live in an area so rich with marine life and historically significant shipwrecks,” explained OceanGate co-founder Guillermo Söhnlein. “Using the latest sonar and ROV technologies, we are offering people a unique, hands-on opportunity to explore Seattle in a fulfilling way that furthers scientific understanding.”
OceanGate's ROV missions are specifically designed to train people to become citizen scientists who can then actively participate in field research missions to gather sample data for local scientists in depths as great as 1,000 feet (305 meters). Sample projects include observations of the six-gill shark and surveys of local shipwrecks in Puget Sound, Lake Union, and Lake Washington. OceanGate also customizes research missions to suit the particular interests of its expedition clients.
OceanGate is working to support scientists from the University of Washington, the Seattle Aquarium, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as researchers from around the world. The ROV missions are a precursor to OceanGate's science expeditions using its new American Bureau of Shipping certified 1,000-foot (305 meter) depth-rated five-person research submarine, Antipodes [an-tip-uh-deez], which will be ready for full operations later this year.
Söhnlein, a serial entrepreneur who spent the past 12 years working with technology startups in Silicon Valley and Northern Virginia, is an avid supporter of space and ocean exploration. He teamed up last year with a similarly-minded local Seattle investor to launch OceanGate.
“Over two-thirds of the Earth‘s surface is covered in water, yet more than 95 percent of the world’s oceans remains unexplored, mostly due to lack of project funding and access to research technologies,” says Söhnlein. “We want to do whatever we can to help change that by giving as many people as possible the opportunity to actively participate in scientific discovery.”
For a listing of sample ROV missions visit: www.opentheoceans.org/rovmissions.htm
About OceanGate
OceanGate’s mission is to open the world’s unexplored oceans to those inspired by deep-sea discovery. We organize underwater field research expeditions that combine trained “citizen scientists” and our own operations team with leading marine scientists in support of their ground-breaking projects. We also charter our equipment and personnel to a global network of ocean researchers and to film companies developing marine science education content. To find out more please visit www.opentheoceans.org.