Henry Ruhl, director of the CeNCOOS collaboration housed at MBARI, has been appointed to the California Ocean Protection Council’s Science Advisory Team. This panel brings together experts from across the state to help ensure California’s ocean and coastal policies are informed by the best available science.

Last weekend, MBARI participated in the 16th Annual Whalefest Monterey celebration, immersing attendees in the ocean soundscape. MBARI scientists shared their latest research and technology—from studying the ecology of blue whales to advancing AI tools with the FathomVerse mobile game—to help inspire a new generation of ocean explorers.

FathomNet has partnered with LifeCLEF and FGVC13 to host a Kaggle challenge to tackle one of the biggest obstacles for applying computer vision to marine imagery. This data competition aims to engage students and early-career data scientists in the computer vision community to develop new approaches to advance AI for ocean exploration.

The Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS)—a research collaboration housed at MBARI—has published a new strategic and implementation plan for 2026–2036. The new plan outlines how CeNCOOS members will share high-quality data to support decision-making about our marine life, ecosystems, and resources.

The Webby Awards has named FathomVerse an Honoree in the AI Experiences and Applications Energy and Sustainability category. Presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, the 30th Annual Webby Awards recognize excellence on the internet.

Last month, members of the CeNCOOS team led an in-person, hands-on training on the CalOOS Data Portal for students at California State University, Monterey Bay, connecting the next generation of marine scientists with powerful ocean observing tools.