NOAA to Provide Funding for Ocean Exploration in 2025

NOAA Ocean Exploration is offering a unique opportunity for researchers and scientists to delve into the mysteries of the deep sea with its Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2025 Funding Opportunity. The agency is seeking proposals that focus on either ocean exploration or maritime heritage, with a deadline for pre-proposals set for May 30, 2024.

For those interested in ocean exploration, projects should aim to uncover unknown or poorly known ocean areas, processes, or resources in waters deeper than 200 meters or in tropical mesophotic environments. This could involve mapping and characterizing ocean habitats, utilizing novel technologies such as autonomous systems or artificial intelligence, or analyzing existing ocean exploration datasets. NOAA Ocean Exploration is particularly keen on projects that explore the deep oceanic water column and improve genetic libraries for species-level environmental DNA analysis.

On the other hand, maritime heritage proposals should center on the exploration for significant maritime heritage resources that enhance our understanding of the past and aid in management and preservation decisions. Projects can be conducted at any water depth and should consider targeting conflict archeology, incorporating Indigenous knowledge, or conducting wide-area searches in poorly mapped maritime heritage areas.

By supporting exploration and discovery in the world’s oceans, NOAA Ocean Exploration aims to advance our understanding of waters under U.S. jurisdiction. Proposals must align with the agency’s Strategic Plan and Strategic Priorities for Ocean Exploration and Characterization of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone. While projects are not limited to U.S. waters, they should demonstrate how they will provide national benefit.

With the deadline for pre-proposals fast approaching, researchers are encouraged to submit their innovative ideas for a chance to uncover the secrets of the deep sea.