This week, the Oceanic Engineering Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) presented MBARI with an award for the Institute’s “consistent presence and efforts towards the goals of the society to advance ocean research for the science and technology community.” The award was presented during the Oceans 2016 conference in Monterey. A number of MBARI staff members were actively involved in hosting and organizing this conference, which brings together professionals in ocean science, engineering, and policy.

In accepting the award, MBARI President and CEO Chris Scholin commented that it was “a great recognition for MBARI and also a nod to David Packard’s vision for how MBARI would evolve as an institution by achieving engineering excellence and serving the greater oceanographic community.”

The Oceans 2016 conference is sponsored by the Marine Technology Society and the IEEE’s Oceanic Engineering Society. The event includes research presentations, tutorials, and exhibits. MBARI Senior Research & Development Engineer Bill Kirkwood co-chaired the event, along with Jill Zande, Associate Director of the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) program, based in Monterey. Many other MBARI staff and engineers helped organize the conference and staffed a booth in the exposition hall. A number of MBARI researchers also gave talks on MBARI research at the conference.