Engineering the Future of Marine Research

 Today we met Esteban, a graduate student who’s building and using small autonomous boats to study shallow marine environments. He explained how he uses Raspberry Pi computers, GPS, and sensors to program these vessels for mapping areas like mangrove channels and bioluminescent bays, where big survey boats can’t go.

The boats collect bathymetry data and can even carry cameras or multibeam sonar to create 3D maps of the seafloor. Esteban showed us how this tech could be used to help with projects like coral reef monitoring, sea urchin recovery, and even flood planning in San Juan.

What made the whole experience especially inspiring was how interdisciplinary it was. Esteban’s work blends engineering, computer science, and marine biology. He emphasized the importance of being adaptable. Whether it's building gear on a budget, managing terabytes of data, or fixing tech issues in the field, adaptability is crucial. It was an exciting glimpse into the future of marine science, and it reminded me how creativity and problem-solving are just as essential as field skills in this field.