Program Background

NURP's creation in 1980 resulted from a recognition of a national need to support and conduct complex undersea observational and manipulative tasks in support of ocean research activities. Implemented through a network of regional centers of undersea science and technology located at major universities and other facilities, NURP focuses on meeting NOAA’s research and mission needs. The program uses advanced undersea technologies to investigate new research questions and develop information of immediate use to natural resource managers. NURP often identifies new habitats, species, and phenomena. To learn more about NURP, visit www.nurp.noaa.gov.

OE's creation in 2001 marked a response to the Report of the President's Panel on Ocean Exploration. OE's objectives seek to focus the best undersea assets and ocean scientists’ minds on conducting reconnaissance expeditions to investigate unknown and poorly known ocean areas. Outreach and education activities form cornerstones of the OE program. The website dedicated to OE's Education and Outreach mission (www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov) is hosted by the Outreach and Education Division of the National Ocean Service Technical Information Services Branch.

In 2008, OER will begin operation of a dedicated exploration vessel, the OKEANOS EXPLORER, which will capitalize on telepresence technology to change the paradigm of ocean exploration and research. While identifying new habitats, species, and phenomena, the exploration program often initiates new research questions and provides information of immediate use to natural resource managers.

• 2001 Annual Report Slideshow (.pdf, 7.7 MB)
  
• 2002 Annual Report (.pdf, 20.5 MB)
• 2003 Annual Report (.pdf, 16.3 MB)
• 2004 Annual Report (.pdf, 7.2 MB)
• 2005-2006 Field Season Highlights (.pdf, 1.5 MB)

By merging the NURP and OE programs, NOAA is capitalizing on the synergy of applying both extramural and intramural resources and attention to ocean exploration, undersea technology, and research challenges. In addition to increased efficiencies, the merger will provide a new focus for NOAA undersea technology development efforts.

Concept for OER: A Unique Model

OER represents much more than a simple merger between two historically successful programs. It represents a new vision and mission that will provide NOAA and the Nation with sound scientific information that accurately characterizes newly discovered ocean habitats and phenomena, and will ensure broad distribution of this information to decision-makers, scientists, educators, and the general public. The vision is to “make the unknown ocean known,” and to inspire in others an interest and desire to understand more.

OER enables discovery through interdisciplinary efforts of teams of ocean scientists. OER and other agencies and programs with ocean-related missions then exploit these discoveries through focused research. Throughout these endeavors, OER increases the pace and efficiency of effort via support of the development and utilization of state-of-the-art ocean technology.

OER seeks advancement based on the founding principle of “discovery in support of future support of future NOAA ocean-related programs.” Discovery of new habitats, new species, and new ocean processes facilitates both the evolution of existing NOAA ocean and Great Lakes research programs, as well as the creation of new NOAA research programs. This promises to reveal future NOAA missions and priorities.

While OER will focus on some special projects, the duration of which will vary from a few months to many years, the four core activities in OER's mission are:

• Interdisciplinary Exploration – The central objective of OER seeks to expand interdisciplinary scientific investigations into new territories in both space and time and apply new research capabilities in so doing.
• Systematic Research – Recognizing the need for a systematic approach to exploring and improving our basic knowledge of the ocean, OER will support and promote research focused on four thematic areas:
• Extreme and Unique Environments. Research will focus on newly discovered and poorly understood ocean environments, including ecosystems associated with hydrothermal vents, methane hydrates, hydrocarbon seeps, submarine canyons, seamounts, and polar environments.
• Ecosystems Frontiers of the Continental Shelf. Research will focus on the living and non-living resources of the U.S. continental shelf below 40 m, including the water column. These resources remain relatively unexplored and poorly understood because they require specialized technologies beyond standard SCUBA to access them.
• New Resources from the Sea. Research will focus on new resources from the sea, including marine biotechnology (the use of living marine organisms to develop commercially viable, novel bioproducts or bioprocesses), energy resources (e.g., gas hydrates), and cultural resources (e.g., archaeology of shipwrecks and discovering our past).
• Ocean Dynamics: Episodic Events to Long Term Changes. From an ecosystem perspective, oceanic events that take place on a wide range of time and spatial scales have a critical impact on the success and survival of species and communities. Understanding multi-scale events requires new observations and instruments that collect and integrate data on time scales ranging from seconds to years.
• Underwater Technology – This element of the program will challenge technicians and scientists to expand the scope and efficiency of exploration and research through the development, testing, and application of new technologies and through innovative uses of existing technologies.
• Education and Outreach – OER will involve the active and creative engagement of a wide variety of audiences by innovative means, including new telepresence technologies.