Defense Department Allocates Finances to Ten UC San Diego Scientists for Instrument Development
UC San Diego and Scripps Institution of Oceanography have been awarded grants from the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), in collaboration with the U.S. Navy. These funds will support groundbreaking research in oceanographic and marine science technologies, with a focus on enhancing naval operations and defense-related oceanographic needs.
Key aspects of the research include:
- Development of Advanced Oceanographic Instruments: Researchers are creating new sensors, autonomous platforms, and measurement systems capable of collecting high-resolution data on ocean conditions such as temperature, salinity, currents, and underwater acoustics.
- Enhanced Underwater Sensing and Surveillance: Improvements are being made to underwater detection and tracking capabilities, crucial for naval defense, including better detection of submarines, underwater vehicles, and marine life that may affect naval operations.
- Improving Data Integration and Modeling: Researchers are combining data from various sources to develop more accurate and timely ocean and environmental models that can predict conditions critical for naval missions, including weather, wave dynamics, and acoustic propagation.
- Autonomous and Robotic Systems: Design and deployment of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) equipped with these advanced instruments, enabling persistent and wide-area ocean monitoring without risking human crews.
- Collaborative Defense Applications: These technological advancements are being tailored for practical application in naval defense scenarios, enhancing situational awareness and operational planning for the U.S. Navy.
Some of the award recipients include Bruce Appelgate, associate director for Ship Operations and Marine Technical Support, who received funding for an advanced deep-water multibeam echosounder and a system of instruments for underwater object tracking, water biomass imaging, and CO2 concentration measurement. Chemistry professor Wei Xiong was also awarded funds to construct a unique table-top ultrafast X-ray spectrometer for revealing ultrafast charge dynamics in energy-related materials.
The DURIP funding supports cutting-edge instrumentation innovation at UC San Diego and Scripps, linking academic scientific expertise with defense needs to maintain and advance U.S. maritime security through superior oceanographic understanding and technology.
This history dates back to the years immediately prior to World War II, when Scripps researchers played a role in developing ways to time amphibious assaults on Nazi positions using wind forecasts to select favorable surf and swell conditions. The Navy chartered Scripps' research vessel, E.W. Scripps, for research during that time, and the collaboration continues to this day.
U.S. 53rd District Rep. Susan Davis and Rep. Scott Peters have congratulated the award recipients, stating that the DURIP awards will help UC San Diego's top researchers continue their state-of-the-art development and testing. UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla also expressed his support, stating that the awards will advance national security and have long-term societal benefits.
In total, 10 researchers from UC San Diego received awards, with projects ranging from underwater acoustic data telemetry to autonomous sampling equipment for extreme sea states. As San Diego's research institutions continue to excel, they are ready to compete for valuable research funding, ensuring the U.S. remains at the forefront of oceanographic research and technology.
- The research at UC San Diego and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, funded by DURIP in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, focuses on marine biology, particularly on the development of advanced oceanographic instruments.
- The Enhanced Underwater Sensing and Surveillance aspect of the research aims to improve underwater detection and tracking capabilities to better detect submarines, underwater vehicles, and marine life that may affect naval operations.
- In the field of education and self-development, online education platforms can provide opportunities for individuals to learn about marine biology, ocean acidification, climate-change, and other related topics in environmental science.
- Data-and-cloud-computing technology is crucial in the integration and modeling of data for more accurate and timely ocean and environmental models, essential for predicting conditions critical for naval missions.
- The deployment of Autonomous and Robotic Systems, such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), will enable persistent and wide-area ocean monitoring, reducing the risk to human crews.
- In the finance and industry sector, investments in technological advancements in marine biology and oceanographic research will have long-term benefits, supporting energy exploration and naval defense technology, ultimately advancing national security.
