2015 AAAS Annual Meeting (12-16 February 2015)

February 12 - 16, 2015

The Atlantic Ocean: Our Unknown Treasure

Most of the Atlantic Ocean, particularly its inner space, is still largely unknown and unexplored. Exploring it requires great determination, ingenuity, and innovative thinking; however, rewards could be great in terms of knowledge gained, natural resources found, and new technologies developed. New imaging and information technologies allow us to revise our understanding of the planet. New sensors, observing systems, vehicles, platforms, and information technology tools promise much for studying and characterizing habitats from the surface to the seabed and sea column habitats, species, and ecology. New visualization tools to improve understanding of the deep-sea bed will inform science/policy interfaces and help shape future marine policy, support marine environment and fisheries management, and contribute to the safety of offshore activities. The session will concentrate on describing how the unknown is explored, including real-time images from exploration vehicles, and discussing future perspectives, e.g. what new technological breakthroughs are needed and who will pay for them; exploring new technologies that are needed and how they could be used to learn more about the Atlantic Ocean (including possible use of Google Glass technology); and asking how well new technologies such as gliders and autonomous underwater vehicles can fulfill the needed assessment, and what we can learn from astro-vehicles. The session will also consider how to foster public awareness and informed discussion on the exploration and exploitation of the Atlantic.