The University of South Florida (USF) has received the research vessel Western Flyer from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Operated by the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO), the ship will advance ocean science education through a yearlong program called Peerside.
Western Flyer, a 117-foot twin-hulled ship, completed a 4,000-mile journey to arrive at its new home port in St. Petersburg. The ship will provide students with opportunities to explore and advance the field of ocean science.
The FIO team will use the Western Flyer to create a new model of ocean science education that leverages the power of sustained mentoring and cohort-based programming, networked workforce development opportunities, and remote science technologies.
This yearlong program, Peerside, will launch this summer with a select group of postsecondary students. These students will explore careers in ocean science, develop beneficial industry connections, and conduct ship-to-shore research.
The Western Flyer is the most technologically advanced vessel in the FIO fleet and will embark on expeditions to waters off the southeastern U.S. and stretching into the northern Caribbean Sea.
The ship’s sophisticated remotely operated vehicle (ROV) will be used to livestream video, data, and shipboard activities using remote science technologies.
The Western Flyer will strengthen USF’s position as a global leader in sustainability, environmental, and oceanographic sciences.
The Western Flyer, located at the USF St. Pete campus research center, becomes @FIOTweets most state-of-the-art research vessel. It will offer marine science students real-world research experience.
Learn more in this @83DegreesMedia story.https://t.co/20gwR5G49e pic.twitter.com/LscrY4PyAx
— USF St. Petersburg (@usfsp) July 19, 2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with…
Brown and Caldwell, a leading environmental engineering and construction firm,…
Humboldt State University, one of four campuses within the California…
