In the 21st century, with advances in both land and ocean based technologies, the need to understand and explore the oceans and the imperative for exercising care and wisdom in ocean-related activities has never been greater; whether in harnessing the oceans' vast resources, or providing warnings against tsunamis that wipe out communities, or understanding how the oceans impact global climate or managing our coasts and beaches, or meeting our commercial and defense requirements. In a report published last year, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy cites how our abilities to exploit our vast resources are threatening the quality of the oceans and its marine life. Yet the Commission sees these very advances as also offering hope for us to change course to achieve a vision of a future in which our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes are clean, safe, and sustainably managed. The Commission calls for a new national ocean policy, and make over 200 recommendations, including greater investment in sound science, technology and education.

The Ocean Commission's call for wise use of the ocean, combined with new requirements in commerce and national defense, and advances in electronics, computer chip industry and marine materials represent significant new challenges for ocean engineering and great opportunities for our graduates. The need to develop and implement new technologies and to educate and train ocean engineers in responding to these challenges and new requirements is clear. Several emerging areas of research, education and development of technologies can be identified:

Ocean Exploration: Vast regions of the oceans remain unexplored and the Commission recommends launch of a new area of ocean exploration. Use of custom ships, submersibles, remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, gliders, observation sensor systems and platforms represent increased opportunities for ocean engineers.

Oceanography and Ocean Observation: The Commission sees the need for integrated coastal and deep water ocean observatories. Combined with ocean modeling, these offer hope for better ocean forecasts and warnings of tsunamis and hurricanes. Ocean science in support of these forecasts will drive cutting edge research in engineering technology.

Ocean Acoustics: Acoustics continue to dominate many ocean-related activities, from acoustic-based sensor systems such as simple fish finders to modem communication to environmental characterization to ocean surveillance. An in-water acoustics observatory for studying underwater sound has been established off the coast of SeaTech on the South Florida Testing Facility. This will provide new opportunities for our faculty and engineers. Underwater transmission of significant data at high speed is an area of great current interest and should see new advances in the near future.

Shipboard automation: The drive to reduce manning onboard ships through automation has been in progress for a few years and advances are being made utilizing developments in power electronics. Marine materials: Lighter, stronger ship hulls and ocean structures made of composites that exploit developments in nano-technology show promise. At the same time, protection against corrosion using safe coatings and materials continue to drive new research.

Coastline Security Technology: The new threats due to terrorism from the seas calls for greater surveillance of our harbors, ports and coastline and has led to a federally-funded research program in development of new sensor systems and small remotely operated platforms.

SeaBasing: By 2015, the Navy plans to develop mobile, extended-stay bases at sea which will be central to future war operations. The necessary science and technology for operating such seabases in high seas present both significant ocean engineering challenges and the need for innovation in ship design, cargo transfer, sea-keeping and hydrodynamic performance. .

Ocean Energy: The search for cleaner, renewable source of energy continues to grow in importance as gas prices soar. The ocean currents, tides, waves and thermal gradients along our vast coastline are significant untapped sources of energy. Developing innovative methods and technologies for harnessing theses sources is a laudable goal for any ocean engineer.

Educators are challenged by the Ocean Commission to respond to its vision of the future and improve ocean-related science and engineering education. Further, significant retiring workforces in Navy laboratories have increased demand for engineers with knowledge of the oceans.

Ocean engineering will therefore continue to offer career opportunities to young people who have come to love the ocean, however challenging it can be.

- Manhar Dhanak, PhD
Department Chair and Director of SeaTech