Designing the Future 3 Expedition goal: MBARI’s Bioinspiration Lab will join an expedition with Schmidt Ocean Institute to use advanced imaging systems to visualize delicate deep-sea drifters. Led by MBARI Adjunct Karen Osborn, a multidisciplinary team of researchers will deploy a diverse suite of advanced technologies to study the biodiversity and ecology of midwater communities. Data from the expedition will be available in the FathomVerse mobile game to engage a global community of ocean enthusiasts and accelerate analysis of expedition observations.Expedition dates: April 15–30, 2026 Ship: R/V Falkor (too) (Schmidt Ocean Institute)Location: offshore Brazil, Southwestern Atlantic OceanResearch technology: DeepPIV, EyeRIS, FathomNet Database, FathomVerseChief scientist: Karen Osborn (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History) The deep sea teems with life, but many of the fascinating animals that live in the ocean’s depths are extremely delicate. Jellies, siphonophores, and other gelatinous animals that live in the midwater—the vast habitat deep below the surface and far above the seafloor—have fragile, transparent bodies. Despite their crucial roles in ocean food webs and our planet’s carbon cycle, many midwater animals are poorly studied because they are difficult to observe. Collecting these animals for further study in the lab is exceedingly challenging.Karen Osborn—research zoologist and curator of annelids and peracarids at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and an adjunct at MBARI—studies the evolution of midwater animals, focusing on the functional morphology and biodiversity of invertebrates. As chief scientist for the Designing the Future 3 expedition with Schmidt Ocean Institute, she will lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers, zoologists, computer scientists, and bioinformaticians from more than a dozen institutions to use cutting-edge prototype technologies to study midwater biodiversity. This expedition is supported by two Sasakawa Peace Foundation Ocean Shot awards to the University of Western Australia and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Learn more about the Designing the Future 3 expedition from Schmidt Ocean Institute.Explore with the team via Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Divestream broadcasting live on YouTube and Twitch, and keep an eye out for #DesigningtheFuture3 on Schmidt Ocean Institute’s social media channels. Innovative technology developed by MBARI’s Bioinspiration Lab brings the lab to the ocean, allowing researchers to visualize the structures and biomechanics of delicate deep-sea animals in their natural habitat. Pairing MBARI’s advanced imaging and data systems with innovative sampling technologies developed by our collaborators is transforming how we study marine life. Studying delicate drifters During the expedition on Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too), the Bioinspiration Lab team will deploy the DeepPIV and EyeRIS imaging systems on the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian to create 4D computer renderings of midwater organisms. The data they collect will complement genetic data obtained using the Rotary Actuated Dodecohedron 2 (RAD2) origami robot developed by engineers from the University of Rhode Island. Engaging a global community Images and video reveal the diversity and dynamics of marine life and offer scientists and researchers vital clues for protecting and improving ocean health, but processing this vast amount of visual data is a huge challenge. Led by MBARI Principal Engineer Kakani Katija, the FathomNet Program brings together AI and ocean research, connecting programmers, marine scientists, and ocean enthusiasts to accelerate ocean discovery. FathomVerse is a mobile game developed through FathomNet that turns ocean exploration into play, combining real scientific imagery with interactive gameplay. The FathomVerse team will incorporate images from the Designing the Future 3 expedition into the game while at sea, inviting a global gaming community to take part in ocean exploration and discovery. A history of innovation and collaboration The expedition expands on past work by Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, the University of Rhode Island, Harvard University, and the City University of New York, including two previous Schmidt Ocean Institute expeditions. Designing the Future 1 in 2019 tested several new technologies for studying marine life in situ, and Designing the Future 2 in 2021 tested improvements to these tools, continuing to refine the next generation of ocean exploration technologies. Development of EyeRIS is supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The FathomNet Program is supported by the US National Science Foundation, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, and Dalio Philanthropies. Additionally, the development of DeepPIV, EyeRIS, and the FathomNet Program is supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s ongoing support of MBARI’s work. Expedition Logs Sorry, no results were found. Team Directory Emily Clark Research Engineering Technician Joost Daniels Senior Research Engineer Kakani Katija Senior Principal Engineer Shore Team Lilli Carlsen FathomNet Engagement Coordinator Paul Roberts Senior Electrical Engineer Giovanna Sainz Research Technician CollaboratorsTK Technologies All Technologies Instrument Deep Particle Image Velocimetry (DeepPIV) Technology Deep Particle Image Velocimetry (DeepPIV) The DeepPIV consists of a laser and optics that illuminate a quantifiable sheet of fluid. Instrument EyeRIS Technology EyeRIS An instrument that captures 3D video with a single camera using lightfield imaging. FathomNet Database Technology FathomNet Database FathomNet is a publicly available database that makes use of existing (and future), expertly curated data from several sources FathomVerse Technology FathomVerse FathomVerse is a mobile game that aims to grow a library of labeled imagery that can train artificial intelligence to identify marine life.
Instrument Deep Particle Image Velocimetry (DeepPIV) Technology Deep Particle Image Velocimetry (DeepPIV) The DeepPIV consists of a laser and optics that illuminate a quantifiable sheet of fluid.
Instrument EyeRIS Technology EyeRIS An instrument that captures 3D video with a single camera using lightfield imaging.
FathomNet Database Technology FathomNet Database FathomNet is a publicly available database that makes use of existing (and future), expertly curated data from several sources
FathomVerse Technology FathomVerse FathomVerse is a mobile game that aims to grow a library of labeled imagery that can train artificial intelligence to identify marine life.