The Challenger Conversations

2023-2024

The conversational webinar series starts with the legacy of the HMS Challenger expedition on its 150th anniversary and develops a diverse global community of citizen scientists who understand the influence of the ocean on our lives and our influence on the ocean. Each conversation will cover past, present and future of the topic as it relates to the HMS Challenger.

Beginning with our series launch on September 14, ocean scientists and science historians feature in virtual roundtable discussions of the iconic voyage – its founding discoveries and achievements, as well as its controversial place in the history of British imperialism. Most of all, we will focus attention on Challenger’s relevance to marine science and conservation today, at a time of unprecedented crisis for the ocean.

Please join our transatlantic partners in this urgent public conversation on ocean exploration – past, present, and future – featuring experts in marine science, history, and education. Please note: There will be ample opportunity for audience questions and discussion with featured guests.

NEXT CONVERSATION #6: MAY 9, 2024

Art and Data Visualisation 4pm (BST UK) 11am (EST USA)

REGISTER NOW (FREE)

Facilitators from Woods Hole Institute, Catherine Cramer and Steve Uzzo

Presenter: Nipam Patel, Director of the Marine Biological Lab, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

The conversation in May 2024 is organized by the Woods Hole Institute (WHI). In the summer of 2022 WHI hosted an evening of music and exhibition of illustrations from the HMS Challenger expedition. The work of the Marine Biological Labs (MBL) of Woods Hole in advanced optics was displayed.

Nipam Patel (Director of the MBL) will give a talk about his own extensive work with marine imaging, the MBL’s history with imaging, and tie it all to the Challenger expedition. He’ll also reference the exhibit that the Woods Hole Institute and MBL put together in 2022

In 2022 MBL and WHI presented images from HMS Challenger alongside images created by the MBL Imaging initiative.

Challenger Conversations #1

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Marine Data Then, Now, Future

Challenger Conversation #2

Featuring: Laura Trethewey Ocean journalist and author of The Imperiled Ocean (2020) and The Deepest Map (2023)  Steve Hall, Head of Partnerships, Seabed 2030. Co-Chairs: Hermoine Cockburn ( Dynamic Earth) and Peter D Tuddenham (College of Exploration)

The second Challenger Conversation focuses on the development of ocean mapping from the time of the HMS Challenger to recent mapping voyages. What do we know about the ocean bottom? How much is mapped? Who and How is the ocean mapped today?

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Challenger Conversation #3

Minerals from the Sea

Featuring Professor Nicholas Owens and Professor Andrew Sweetman from the Scottish Association for Marine Science with hosts Professor Gillen Wood from the University of Illinois and Melissa Ryan Vice President of Global Foundation for Exploration.

We will review the findings from the HMS Challenger and then explore current state of the ocean depths. Our hosts will facilitate the conversation and discuss educational opportunities with the recently available Challenger data and new exploration technologies.

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Chanllenger Conversation #4

Life at Sea

Three conversants will present overviews of life at sea during the HMS Challenger expedition, life at sea today, and life at sea using technology in future. Penelope Hardy, associate professor of the history of science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a former U.S. Navy officer will be joined by Professor Ed Hill, Chief Executive of the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton in England and Gail Scowcroft, Associate Director, Inner Space Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island. Our hosts will be Dr. Anuschka Miller, The Scottish Association for Marine Science and Mr. Peter Tuddenham, College of Exploration.

Research support by Professor Gillen Wood, University of Illinois, and Dr. Tina Bishiop, College of Exploration.

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