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About

We are boldly exploring our unknown Ocean to excite interest and inform the wise stewardship of our planet.

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The Doldrums Fracture Zone
Our planet’s longest mountain range is located in the center of the Atlantic Ocean: the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This submarine volcanic mountain chain stretches for more than 16,000 kilometers, shaping Earth’s geology where tectonic plates drift apart. As the plates separate, mantle material rises, partially melts, and generates magma that forms new oceanic crust. The movement of plates forms wrinkles and lines along the planet’s surface, known as fault zones, which tell the story of Earth’s tectonic history. These fault zones circulate water into the seafloor and through the crust, later releasing it with new chemical compositions— some of which feed deep-sea bacteria that fuel thriving ecosystems in the deepest, darkest parts of the Ocean. While chemosynthetic ecosystems are well documented along the ridge, little is known about what lives on the fault zones. The Doldrums Megatransform System is one of these fault zones formed where offset ridge segments are linked by transform faults as the Atlantic seafloor spreads apart. Here, tectonic plates scrape and slide past one another, creating fascinating geologic formations like fault scarps and sedimented basins, both of which can host areas of chemically altered seawater and deep-sea ecosystems. Dr. Aaron Micallef of MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) and the international team will travel to the Doldrums Fracture Zone to map and identify interesting geological features, and then use ROV SuBastian to visualize them. Key to their work will be The Childlike Empress AUV, which will both create high-resolution maps of the seafloor and use its sensors to sniff out interesting chemicals that indicate venting. This expedition marks the first time Schmidt Ocean Institute’s new AUV will be used for scientific research.
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Expeditions

In the coming years, our expeditions will explore understudied regions around all seven continents in our global Ocean.

Latest Expedition

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The Doldrums Fracture Zone
Our planet’s longest mountain range is located in the center of the Atlantic Ocean: the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This submarine volcanic mountain chain stretches for more than 16,000 kilometers, shaping Earth’s geology where tectonic plates drift apart. As the plates separate, mantle material rises, partially melts, and generates magma that forms new oceanic crust. The movement of plates forms wrinkles and lines along the planet’s surface, known as fault zones, which tell the story of Earth’s tectonic history. These fault zones circulate water into the seafloor and through the crust, later releasing it with new chemical compositions— some of which feed deep-sea bacteria that fuel thriving ecosystems in the deepest, darkest parts of the Ocean. While chemosynthetic ecosystems are well documented along the ridge, little is known about what lives on the fault zones. The Doldrums Megatransform System is one of these fault zones formed where offset ridge segments are linked by transform faults as the Atlantic seafloor spreads apart. Here, tectonic plates scrape and slide past one another, creating fascinating geologic formations like fault scarps and sedimented basins, both of which can host areas of chemically altered seawater and deep-sea ecosystems. Dr. Aaron Micallef of MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) and the international team will travel to the Doldrums Fracture Zone to map and identify interesting geological features, and then use ROV SuBastian to visualize them. Key to their work will be The Childlike Empress AUV, which will both create high-resolution maps of the seafloor and use its sensors to sniff out interesting chemicals that indicate venting. This expedition marks the first time Schmidt Ocean Institute’s new AUV will be used for scientific research.
Read More

Programs

From grants for caregivers to an artist-at-sea residency, our programs strive to deepen knowledge and inspire a connection with our planet’s life support system.

Latest Expedition

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The Doldrums Fracture Zone
Our planet’s longest mountain range is located in the center of the Atlantic Ocean: the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This submarine volcanic mountain chain stretches for more than 16,000 kilometers, shaping Earth’s geology where tectonic plates drift apart. As the plates separate, mantle material rises, partially melts, and generates magma that forms new oceanic crust. The movement of plates forms wrinkles and lines along the planet’s surface, known as fault zones, which tell the story of Earth’s tectonic history. These fault zones circulate water into the seafloor and through the crust, later releasing it with new chemical compositions— some of which feed deep-sea bacteria that fuel thriving ecosystems in the deepest, darkest parts of the Ocean. While chemosynthetic ecosystems are well documented along the ridge, little is known about what lives on the fault zones. The Doldrums Megatransform System is one of these fault zones formed where offset ridge segments are linked by transform faults as the Atlantic seafloor spreads apart. Here, tectonic plates scrape and slide past one another, creating fascinating geologic formations like fault scarps and sedimented basins, both of which can host areas of chemically altered seawater and deep-sea ecosystems. Dr. Aaron Micallef of MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) and the international team will travel to the Doldrums Fracture Zone to map and identify interesting geological features, and then use ROV SuBastian to visualize them. Key to their work will be The Childlike Empress AUV, which will both create high-resolution maps of the seafloor and use its sensors to sniff out interesting chemicals that indicate venting. This expedition marks the first time Schmidt Ocean Institute’s new AUV will be used for scientific research.
Read More

Galleries

Experience the wonder of our global Ocean via immersive galleries of art, scientific discoveries, and film.

Latest Expedition

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The Doldrums Fracture Zone
Our planet’s longest mountain range is located in the center of the Atlantic Ocean: the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This submarine volcanic mountain chain stretches for more than 16,000 kilometers, shaping Earth’s geology where tectonic plates drift apart. As the plates separate, mantle material rises, partially melts, and generates magma that forms new oceanic crust. The movement of plates forms wrinkles and lines along the planet’s surface, known as fault zones, which tell the story of Earth’s tectonic history. These fault zones circulate water into the seafloor and through the crust, later releasing it with new chemical compositions— some of which feed deep-sea bacteria that fuel thriving ecosystems in the deepest, darkest parts of the Ocean. While chemosynthetic ecosystems are well documented along the ridge, little is known about what lives on the fault zones. The Doldrums Megatransform System is one of these fault zones formed where offset ridge segments are linked by transform faults as the Atlantic seafloor spreads apart. Here, tectonic plates scrape and slide past one another, creating fascinating geologic formations like fault scarps and sedimented basins, both of which can host areas of chemically altered seawater and deep-sea ecosystems. Dr. Aaron Micallef of MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) and the international team will travel to the Doldrums Fracture Zone to map and identify interesting geological features, and then use ROV SuBastian to visualize them. Key to their work will be The Childlike Empress AUV, which will both create high-resolution maps of the seafloor and use its sensors to sniff out interesting chemicals that indicate venting. This expedition marks the first time Schmidt Ocean Institute’s new AUV will be used for scientific research.
Read More

Ocean Rising" Event and White Paper Available Online

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Press Releases

Nekton Mission and the Schmidt Ocean Institute held "Ocean Rising: The Quest to Inspire the Public," a virtual workshop, on July 7th, 2021. The purpose of the event was to spotlight inspiring talks and breakout discussions on how to stimulate the public by engaging popular culture in ocean sciences and storytelling. Head over to the event page for access to the White Paper (both in whole and by subject). The main event was also recored and able to be watched in full.

Check out "Ocean Rising: The Quest to Inspire the Public" here.

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Latest Expedition

Latest Expedition

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Latest Expedition

Ocean Rising" Event and White Paper Available Online

Check out "Ocean Rising: The Quest to Inspire the Public" here.

Keeling Curve--World's Longest-Running Carbon Dioxide Measurement--Receives Continuation Funding from Eric and Wendy Schmidt

PUBLIC TESTIMONY - UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, DISCUSSING OCEAN EXPLORATION

Call for Expressions of Interest in Collaborative Research on R/V Falkor in 2019

R/V Falkor Shares Her Name with Newly Discovered Underwater Mountain

News and General Announcements

News and General Announcements

Science and Tech Opportunities

Science and Tech Opportunities

Expedition Updates

Expedition Updates

Artist-at-Sea Program

Artist-at-Sea Program

Events

Events

Check out "Ocean Rising: The Quest to Inspire the Public" here.

Related Articles

Keeling Curve--World's Longest-Running Carbon Dioxide Measurement--Receives Continuation Funding from Eric and Wendy Schmidt

PUBLIC TESTIMONY - UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT SUBCOMMITTEE, DISCUSSING OCEAN EXPLORATION

Call for Expressions of Interest in Collaborative Research on R/V Falkor in 2019

R/V Falkor Shares Her Name with Newly Discovered Underwater Mountain

News and General Announcements

News and General Announcements

Science and Tech Opportunities

Science and Tech Opportunities

Expedition Updates

Expedition Updates

Artist-at-Sea Program

Artist-at-Sea Program

Events

Events