Luksha, Kate

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University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryUNH International Educator Newsletter Global Education CenterSpring 4-1-2018Spring 2018, It Takes a Village: UNH GEBCOAlums Revolutionize Ocean MappingKate LukshaUniversity of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/international_newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Global Education Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. Ithas been accepted for inclusion in UNH International Educator Newsletter by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars'Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationLuksha, Kate, "Spring 2018, It Takes a Village: UNH GEBCO Alums Revolutionize Ocean Mapping" (2018). International Educator:the Newsletter of the UNH Global Engagement. 257.https://scholars.unh.edu/international_news/25712/17/2018 It Takes a Village: UNH GEBCO Alums Revolutionize Ocean Mapping | UNH Globalhttps://www.unh.edu/global/it-takes-village-unh-gebco-alums-revolutionize-ocean-mapping 1/5UNH GlobalIt Takes a Village: UNH GEBCO Alums RevolutionizeOcean MappingFriday, April 13, 2018Part of the GEBCO-NF Alumni Team gathered in Horten,together with both Kongsberg Maritime and Dr. JyotikaVirmani, Senior Director in Prize Operations at ShellOcean Discovery XPRIZE. Photo cred: Kongsberg(https://stories.kongsberg.com/content/autonomous-ocean-exploration-0)A er six long months and many 18 hour days,Rochelle Wigley, Project Director for the NipponFoundation/GEBCO training program at theUniversity of New Hampshire’s Center forCoastal and Ocean Mapping, talks about hertime in Norway working with the GEBCO-NFAlumni team (https://www.gebco-nf.com/).  Theteam recently completed their Round 1Technology Readiness Tests for the $7 millionShell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, revolutionizingthe way we map and understand the oceanfloor.The team set out to build both an unmannedsurface vehicle (USV) and an autonomousunderwater vehicle (AUV) entirely from scratch.  Their USV is the first ever with the ability to deployand retrieve AUV equipment at sea, which is what makes it so special.   The USV is controlled fromshore, deploying the AUV to swim within 40 meters of the ocean floor and scan detailed images ofwhat it finds there.  Both the accuracy of the devices and detail of the images is remarkable.  Whereonce you might only have been able to see the breadth of a shipwreck underwater, the team cannow discern minute details, like a broken masthead.12/17/2018 It Takes a Village: UNH GEBCO Alums Revolutionize Ocean Mapping | UNH Globalhttps://www.unh.edu/global/it-takes-village-unh-gebco-alums-revolutionize-ocean-mapping 2/5The team consisted of 40 people from 13 di erent countries around the world, 10 of whom are UNHalums of the GEBCO program.   Each member of the team brought something unique to the table,with backgrounds ranging from geology to engineering. “We all had little bits of the puzzle and without all of us, none of it would have happened,” Roxysays.  It was clear from her tone that she was very proud of her team.  They were able to challengeeach other to approach problems in new ways.   Roxy continues, “We all think about thingsdi erently and it’s amazing because just culturally things are done di erently.   They would ask aquestion that we would never think of asking.   We could ask questions that made those with theknowledge think about it.  I think everybody really enjoyed it because it challenged all of us on one,or two, or a hundred levels.”Jaya Roperez, of the Philippines, had been working as a hydrographer and data processor prior tojoining the team.  Jaya worked closely with the boat builders during this project and later joined thedata team, as she said she loved finding ways to make things work.  This opportunity was a specialone for her.  She says, “I would have missed so much in my life and career if I did not join the team.  Itis such a once in my lifetime opportunity.   This project proved that people, regardless of theindividual di erences, can come together and do great things as long as they are sharing the samepurpose.”  And when you spend as much time together as this group did, it’s important to have somecommon ground, especially when it comes to food.Norway was new to many of these scholars and coming from so many di erent backgrounds, Roxyshared that it was o en hard to agree on what to eat for dinner.  Norway was the chosen destinationfor this project because of the reputation of Kongsberg Maritime, which is known to have some ofthe best ocean mapping technology in the world.   Roxy spoke candidly about her time in Norway,working very closely with her team.   There were 13 people living under one roof and despite theirmany di erences, Roxy shared, “It was actually really, really nice because almost none of the teamknew each other beforehand, and so just watching the friendships grow has been really good.  Theywere a fun bunch.   We laughed and laughed and laughed.”   Spending so much time living andworking together, the team quickly became more like family, eventually including the newborn babyof one of the team members.The closeness of the team was never more evident than in their fond tribute to a former GEBCOalum.  Maxlimer Vallee Anziani (https://www.unh.edu/global/memoriam-unh-remembers-maxlimer-coromoto-vallee-anziani), of Venezuela, passed away tragically a year ago.   The team made the12/17/2018 It Takes a Village: UNH GEBCO Alums Revolutionize Ocean Mapping | UNH Globalhttps://www.unh.edu/global/it-takes-village-unh-gebco-alums-revolutionize-ocean-mapping 3/5USV Maxlimerunanimous decision to christen their USV“Maxlimer.”   They celebrated her life togetherand doused the hull of the vessel in champagnein honor of her memory.The GEBCO program has not only fosteredstrong friendships, but it has cultivated strongminds, as well.  When asked how Roxy’s time asan alum of the GEBCO training program at UNHprepared her for this project, she said it wasabsolutely pivotal.  She says, “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the training we’d had atCCOM, absolutely, categorically, and I think it prepared us to work hard.   But, it also gave us theknowledge and the confidence to tackle it.  I think that was the most important thing, it just gave usthe confidence to think we could do it.   We had enough knowledge to deal with [the project]properly, and that was remarkable.  That was one of the most amazing things.”Karolina Chorzewska, of Poland, agreed adding that “the common experience gained during theNippon Foundation and GEBCO training program [allowed the team] to immediately cooperate,understand each other, and work together for a common goal.”   For Karolina, this was the mostimpressive thing.  She says, “You meet a person for the first time in your life, and a er a minute youboth talk together like experienced co-workers, because you share the same attitude about thehydrographic and scientific work.” Sattiabaruth Seeboruth, of Mauritius, says, “This competition enabled me to work with GEBCOalumni and travel to countries where I never thought one day I will go there.”  The strength of theGEBCO program and the dedication of the alums propelled this team to the final round for theXPRIZE.   It is clear from their enthusiasm and acclaim that all were touched by this experience, asthey eagerly await the next steps.The GEBCO-NF Alumni team is sure to expand and take on new challenges as they enter Phase 2 ofthe project, which is scheduled for the end of this year.  They will bring their vessel to the open oceanfor sea trials in waters up to 4,000 meters in depth, pushing their knowledge and hard work to newlimits.12/17/2018 It Takes a Village: UNH GEBCO Alums Revolutionize Ocean Mapping | UNH Globalhttps://www.unh.edu/global/it-takes-village-unh-gebco-alums-revolutionize-ocean-mapping 4/5Tags: GEBCO (/global/tags/gebco)WRITTEN BY Kate Luksha | Global Education Center | kate.luksha@unh.edu (mailto:kate.luksha@unh.edu)News & Events (/global/news-and-events)News (/global/news)It Takes a Village: UNH GEBCO Alums Revolutionize Ocean Mapping (/global/it-takes-village-unh-gebco-alums-revolutionize-ocean-mapping)Calendar of Events (http://calendar.unh.edu)Events Around the Seacoast 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Spring 2018, It Takes a Village: UNH GEBCO Alums Revolutionize Ocean Mapping

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Spring 2018, It Takes a Village: UNH GEBCO Alums Revolutionize Ocean Mapping

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