Engineers from MBARI’s CoMPAS Lab recently returned from an expedition to the Arctic, where they deployed the MOLA AUV under the ice for the first time. The fieldwork marked a major milestone in the development of this nimble technology platform, demonstrating how MOLA robots can be used for studying benthic ecology and under-ice ecosystems.

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.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has named MBARI Senior Scientist Kelly Benoit-Bird a 2025 Fellow, recognizing her distinguished contributions to the field of marine ecology, particularly for innovative development, application, and integration of acoustical techniques.

Scientists in MBARI’s Biological Oceanography Group contributed eDNA samples, data, and expertise to a new global marine biodiversity monitoring program led by Deutsche Bank, Germany’s SailGP team, the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, and NatureMetrics that aims to inform future ocean conservation efforts.

With a new flagship research vessel joining our fleet, the opening of a new robotic technology lab, and the arrival of a new president and CEO, 2025 marked the start of an exciting chapter for MBARI. The 2025 MBARI Annual Report provides an immersive review of our scientific discoveries, technology innovations, and international collaborations over the past year.

Last week, more than 30 scientists and engineers from MBARI attended the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. MBARI staff shared the institute’s latest developments in ocean science, technology, education, and communications with peers from around the world to help facilitate new global collaborations.

This week, MBARI President and CEO Antje Boetius participated in the Arctic Circle Rome Forum – Polar Dialogue: From Glaciers to Seas. She took part in panel discussions about international cooperation in research and infrastructure, from the UN Decade program Antarctica InSync to the upcoming Fifth International Polar Year in 2032–33.

This week, MBARI President and CEO Antje Boetius participated in the Monaco Polar Symposium, bringing her extensive experience in polar sciences to international discussions about the challenges facing polar environments and communities.

MBARI scientists and engineers have joined an expedition with MARUM aboard the German research vessel Sonne to study the seafloor offshore of Southern California. Using MBARI’s autonomous robots, the expedition team will map fluid seeps in the San Clemente Basin for further study with MARUM’s remotely operated vehicle.

During a scientific cruise in Monterey Bay aboard MBARI’s research vessel Rachel Carson last month, biologists from our education and conservation partner, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, encountered a baby glass squid (family Cranchiidae).

MBARI researchers and their collaborators used advanced underwater robots to map and sample three extraordinarily large lava flow fields near Axial Seamount, an active volcano offshore of Oregon. The team recently published their findings in the scientific journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems.

A team of MBARI scientists and engineers shared their latest findings in seafloor science and mapping at a symposium organized by Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and Doerr School of Sustainability. The two-day event showcased cutting-edge research in seafloor processes and explored new pathways for collaboration.

The Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) has named MBARI Senior Scientist Kelly Benoit-Bird a 2025 Sustaining Fellow. Each year, ASLO honors select members for their contributions to the scientific community. Sustaining Fellows are recognized as having sustained excellence in their contributions to ASLO and the aquatic sciences.

The three-day workshop, Towards Sustainable Global Marine Omics Observation and Coordination, brought together international experts in eDNA research and technology to discuss strategies for using a variety of genomics tools to survey marine biodiversity across the global ocean.

MBARI President and CEO Antje Boetius received an honorary doctorate from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) in recognition of her contributions to deep-sea and polar research.