Presenter(s):
Angelicque White, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Masako Tominaga, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Primary Convener:
Kipp Shearman, Oregon State University

Join us for a town hall and listening session on the future of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet (ARF), a cornerstone facility for oceanographic and Earth system science. As we welcome the addition of three new Regional Class research vessels and the valuable gain in research capabilities that they represent, the ARF faces some major challenges. Demand for Global Class Research Vessels is at an all-time high and continues to exceed available capacity, creating a backlog in expedition scheduling. At the same time, the fleet is approaching a critical juncture, with the impending retirement of all three Global Class AGORs, midlife decisions for the Ocean Class, and no formal plans in place to replace aging coastal and local vessels that serve vital regional missions. This session invites community input on priorities, capabilities, and needs for the next generation of research ships. Panelists will provide updates from the UNOLS Fleet Improvement Committee, the Decadal Survey of Ocean Sciences, and recent interagency planning efforts. We welcome feedback from ship users, early career scientists, and allied disciplines on infrastructure challenges, mission-critical science, and ideas for advancing access and innovation in ocean-going research.

Cross-Listed:
T - Tectonophysics
PP - Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
B - Biogeosciences
V - Volcanology‚ Geochemistry and Petrology
OS - Ocean Sciences
GC - Global Environmental Change