Page 99 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2026

On-water Gulf Blue Navigator demonstration showcasing their Skelmir S6 autonomous underwater vehicle
USM Gulf Coast Research Lab's Marine Education Center Resilience in Action workshop
photos courtesy of Gulf Blue Navigator, USM Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, and USM School of Ocean Science and Engineering
to grow across all audiences. “Students are increasingly interested in careers that combine technology, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and ocean science. Public interest has also expanded as people learn more about how the Blue Economy impacts national security, workforce development, sustainable seafood, coastal resilience, and economic growth,” she said.
“Gulf Blue Navigator continues to demonstrate that Mississippi is uniquely positioned to support innovation in aquaculture, maritime technology, autonomous systems, ocean data, defense applications, and sustainable food systems. As our companies continue to grow and new partnerships emerge, we are seeing the impact of building a strong innovation ecosystem that connects research, entrepreneurship, industry, and workforce development. The momentum is real, and we believe the best is yet to come.”
“The University of Southern Mississippi's School of Ocean Science and Engineering's marine research enterprises are distributed across the Coast and operate from three primary locations, each with a somewhat distinct mission,” says Robert Leaf, PhD. and director.
The school was formally established in 2018 through an academic reorganization that united several existing marine- focused departments, but the roots of these entities run far deeper. “It has grown rapidly with interest in the blue economy.
“Our ocean engineering program continues to show exceptional growth, driven by strong demand for highly
skilled engineers capable of working on unmanned maritime systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, and autonomous surface vehicles—a major component of the program,” Leaf said. “Our ocean engineering students also contribute to the shipbuilding workforce in Jackson County, and there is clear national demand for their skills, but locally the emphasis on blue-economy growth has had a direct, positive impact on this segment of our undergraduates.”
They've seen similar interest in the undergraduate marine biology program. “These are skilled marine biologists who can support sustainability across tourism, recreation, and hospitality in our three coastal counties,” he said. “Many students come from Mississippi, but we increasingly draw students nationally as well, and Mississippi has shown itself to be a leader in Gulf resource management.
“Hydrography, or ocean mapping, is another high-demand field. Our graduates enjoy 100 percent employment upon graduation. There is a demand for hydrographers regionally, nationally, and internationally, and our students go on to map the ocean in support of oil and gas, maritime safety, and military applications.”
GCRL is having an Open House on September 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Halstead site, 703 East Beach Drive, Ocean Springs. There will be booths showcasing research and educational opportunities, live animals, and free boat rides.
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