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Dr. Frances H. Arnold, a former ONR-sponsored performer, received the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the first American woman to win science’s most recognized award.

The competition—sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Foundation—is an autonomous robotics challenge where teams put their autonomous surface vehicles through a marked navigation channel and a series of challenges. The goal is to boost student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and to inspire them to follow a naval career in these fields.

Assessing surf zone conditions has never been an exact science for the Department of the Navy. That’s about to change thanks to a recent request to TechSolutions, which has resulted in new surf observation (SUROB) technology to make operational forecasts more precise. For the past six months, a team of scientists and engineers from the Naval Research Lab (NRL) and the U.S. Army’s Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) have been developing the technological tools needed to create a more precise surf observation report. In order to gain greater insight into how the surf observation tool may improve warfighter operations, NavalX recently organized a workshop that brought together the science and engineering developers with the Sailors and Marines who would use it. TechSolutions received the request less than a year ago for a technology-driven solution for surf observation from Maj. Zachary Taylor, a technology officer with the Marines’ Warfighting Lab. Within weeks, TechSolutions began working with the development team at NRL and ERDC to come up with a prototype.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is sponsoring work by Dr. Anish Tuteja, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Michigan, to develop a new type of “omniphobic” coating that might save the U.S. Navy millions of dollars in ship fuel costs, reduce the amount of energy that vessels consume and improve operational efficiency.

A new mobile app from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is just a download away – expanding ONR’s reach to a wider and more diverse audience, and increasing awareness of its role within the Department of the Navy (DoN). The user-friendly “ONR” mobile app has been approved for downloads on DoN work phones, as well as the general public, giving access to ONR information to anyone who wants to learn more about naval science and technology. The “ONR” app is based on a similar mobile platform used for several years by the Department of the Air Force. It is free to anyone through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Simply search for “Office of Naval Research” on your preferred platform. If downloading to a DoN work phone, tap the Flank Speed Comp Portal app on your GFE mobile device. Tap the Apps Menu, then scroll to categories. The “ONR” app is located in the reference category.

For Dr. Brett Seidle — the deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, Test and Engineering — the breakneck speed of current scientific progress and technological proliferation can be challenging, especially when the impact of new technologies on civilian and military realities transcends national borders. While giving the keynote address at the recent Specialized Inter-American Naval Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation (SIANC-ST&I) in Orlando, Florida, Seidle identified several scientific disciplines that have developed into top naval priorities: unmanned and autonomous systems, cyber and information warfare, and maritime domain awareness, to name a few.

The International Cooperative Engagement Program for Polar Research (ICE-PPR) International Workshop for Sea Ice and Icebergs was held recently at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The workshop attendees focused on three areas: science and technology researchers who study data and create new algorithms or sensors; the centers that produce ice analysis products for mariners; and the operators themselves, personnel from the U.S. and Canadian Navies and Coast Guards who have operated ships in polar regions.

School may be out for summer, but an opportunity to gain valuable, professional experience in their field of study has just begun for students enrolled in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Minority Institutions’ (HBCU/MIs’). Anthony Smith, director, Department of Navy's (DoN) HBCU/MI Program, said there are eight different internships with the addition of a new one this year. “We are embarking on a new student internship program with the Navy Facilities Command (NAVFAC),” he said. “That’s a big deal because that’s focused on students in engineering but more along the lines of civil engineering and construction technology – and that’s a big one that we have not had before. So, that’s exciting for us.” Education and outreach from the DoN includes college internships, graduate fellowships, science fairs and competitions, and curriculum enrichment programs for students of all ages. The HBCU/MI program aims to increase participation from under-represented educational institutions for research, development, test and evaluation programs.

As the lead of curriculum for the Naval Aviation Maintenance Center for Excellence Training (NAMCE-T) unit at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), Point Mugu, California, Master Chief Avionics Technician Andrew Karsten wanted to give his students more than just PowerPoint instruction. He wanted them to get a feel for the parts of the plane they were going to be tasked with repairing – the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. However, obtaining parts for that hands-on experience was going to be a challenge. Karsten reached out to TechSolutions and asked, if there was a way to potentially obtain a 3D printer or connect him to somebody who could provide 3D printing services. TechSolutions is the Department of the Navy’s (DoN) rapid response program that addresses warfighter needs by quickly developing science and technology-driven solutions. Although the request was out of scope for the program, which does not facilitate getting commercially available products, TechSolutions took immediate action to help. Dr. Scott Steward, then-deputy director of TechSolutions, connected with colleagues in their network to find someone who may be able to support the warfighter’s request. Sailors and Marines interested in learning more about TechSolutions may email the team at ONR_TechSolutions@navy.mil.

The DoD recently awarded $50 million in grants to 150 university scientists—54 of whom are sponsored by ONR—via the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program.