Washington, DC: How Are Marine Robots Shaping Our Future?

This event is presented by Johns Hopkins Wavelenths in partnership with the Sheridan Libraries & University Museums.

The world’s interconnected oceans represent approximately 71% of our planet’s surface, but only 25% of their seafloors have been mapped in detail, which presents military risks, missed resource opportunities, and difficult rescue and recovery efforts. But with advances in robotics design, nimble, small, crewless vehicles are at work discovering new resources and providing critical data. What will they discover next—from the depths of Earth’s oceans to the reaches of deep space?

Marine technologies expert and Arctic expedition leader James Bellingham will take up this question of autonomous robots’ vital impacts in aquaculture management, climate data gathering, and deep sea energy source discovery as he discusses his recent book, How Are Marine Robots Shaping Our Future? (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2025) in conversation with NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce, A&S ’94, ’95 (MA).

RECEPTION:

A reception will follow the program. While there will be no formal book signing, the speaker will be happy to sign attendees’ copies during the reception.

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