The University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography is holding a national competition to name a new National Science Foundation-owned Regional Class Research Vessel which will homeport at the URI Narragansett Bay Campus.
GSO, with its academic partners and federal sponsors, invited the public (individuals and groups) to submit names that honor individuals, communities or ideas that have furthered our understanding of the ocean, and whose recognition is long overdue.
Between October 15 and December 31, 2020, GSO received 141 public submissions from across the United States.
GSO Dean Paula Bontempi reconstituted an 18-member naming committee to establish an equitable and inclusive process for selecting a name for this new world-class vessel. The committee will announce a set of finalists in February 2021. From this set, the committee will suggest a final name to the Dean of GSO, which the dean will recommend to the President of URI and the vessel owner, the National Science Foundation, for consideration and final approval.
GSO will invite the finalists, winner, and any immediate family members (if the finalists or winners are minors) to join us at the new Research Vessel’s christening in 2023.
RCRV Naming Committee
| Christopher Armanetti | Interim Captain, R/V Endeavor |
| William Fanning | Ships Technician, R/V Endeavor |
| Steven Greenlee | GSO Advisory Council |
| Erich Gruebel | Marine Technical Project Coordinator, URI-GSO |
| Carolyn Higgins | STEM Specialist, R.I. Department of Education |
| Nyla Husain | Postdoctoral Fellow, URI-GSO |
| Lucie Maranda | Marine Research Scientist, URI-GSO |
| Catalina Martinez | Regional Program Manager, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research |
| Larry Mayer | Director, Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, UNH |
| Martha McConnell | Lecturer, URI-GSO |
| Amelia Moore | Associate Professor, URI-CELS |
| Rick Murray | Deputy Director/VP for Research, WHOI |
| Melissa Omand | Assistant Professor, URI-GSO |
| David Palazzetti | GSO Director of Facilities |
| Loren Spears | Executive Director, Tomaquag Museum |
| Judith Swift | Director, Coastal Institute; Committee Chair |
| Brendan Thornton | Interim Chief Mate, R/V Endeavor |
| James Yoder | Emeritus Professor/Dean Emeritus, URI-GSO |
About this competition
Recently, many faculty, students, and staff have shared their thoughts about GSO, including its academics, research, and community. Members of the GSO community have shared their vision for the future of the school and Rhode Island, its blue economy, and our commitment to inspiring and educating the next generation of scientists and explorers.
A central aspect of that vision is for URI and GSO to become leaders in diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. As such, one of the first points of reflection for senior URI leadership was reexamining the current name of this new Regional Class Research Vessel, “Resolution.” In making the decision to rename the vessel, Dean Paula Bontempi listened to members of both GSO and the broader URI community who urged that we reconsider its name.