From the Desk of Dean Bruce Corliss

Innovation is at the core of what we do in oceanography and science in general. New analytical tools and procedures create opportunities for observations and research that were previously not possible. New questions posed by researchers can propel a particular field in pioneering directions. One of the most fertile areas for innovation is collaboration among researchers with different training, perspectives and interests. Innovative research has been a tradition at GSO since its founding, and this issue of Aboard GSO explores a broad range of examples of this growing legacy.

Ship Construction Begins

One of the more exciting moments for GSO this last year was the keel laying of the R/V Resolution at Gulf Island Shipyard in Houma, La. on May 7, 2019. We were delighted to have Governor Gina Raimondo as the vessel sponsor, and she was joined at the event by President David Dooley, Dr. Terry Quinn (NSF Ocean Science Division Director) Mr. Tim DelGiudice (Chair, Rhode Council on Post Secondary Education), GSO staff, Dean’s Advisory Council members Barclay Collins and Peter Claypool and R/V Endeavor crew members. Ship construction has begun with a scheduled delivery to the GSO dock in early 2022 when the ship will be formally christened by Governor Raimondo.

Campus Improvements

We are grateful for the support of Rhode Island voters who approved the 2018 Rhode Island educational bond. The bond contained $45 million for Narragansett Bay Campus renovations and is the first step to carry out the NBC Master Plan developed in 2016. These funds will cover the cost of a new pier and marine support building for R/V Resolution and an Ocean Technology and Robotics Building to be shared by GSO and Ocean Engineering. This building will house office space and extensive laboratory facilities for faculty, staff and students, as well as space for private-sector partnerships. It will be an important part of our efforts to develop a Blue Economy innovation ecosystem for Narragansett Bay that will include collaborations with the U.S. Naval War College, Naval Underwater Warfare Center, Raytheon, the State of Rhode Island, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution among others. These broad collaborations will provide new opportunities for research, graduate support and workforce development that will have a significant impact on Rhode Island and southern New England for years to come.

Leaving the Helm

Having completed 7 and a half years, I will be stepping down as Dean in early 2020. My time at GSO has been an exciting and fulfilling experience working with the Narragansett Bay Campus community and colleagues across URI and Rhode Island. An international search is now underway for the sixth GSO Dean with a search committee made up of faculty, staff and students, and the position is being advertised in national and international publications with the goal of identifying the next dean in late 2019.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Aboard GSO.