Page 10 - UD Magazine Vol. 31 No. 1

EVAN KRAPE
FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA
For all of humanity’s advances, we still know scant
little about the world’s oceans. An estimated 80% remains unmapped, unobserved and unexplored, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
But that will change, with Delaware leading the charge.
NOAA has awarded UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment a two-year, $1.3 million grant to make Delaware a leading national center in the application and development of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and workforce development.
Known as Project ABLE—Align, Build, Leverage and Expand—the effort is a collaboration between Delaware State University and the UD Center for Autonomous and Robotic
Systems designed to advance the “Blue Economy.”
The Blue Economy refers to any economic activity made
possible by the ocean, including efforts to sustain humanity, like offshore wind power.
“There is no separating the ocean from the global environment,” says Fabrice Veron, college dean. “Project ABLE represents an effort to connect industry and government with the expertise of our faculty and students. This new initiative will set us on a path to creating an incubator for the Blue Economy right here in Sussex County, and the state of Delaware as a whole, as we build a dynamic place for innovation that will reach out to the Atlantic Ocean and far beyond.”
WE GOT THE SPIRIT!
The results from the 2023 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships have given Blue Hens a lot to cheer about: three national titles for the Coed Cheer, Dance and Mascot teams.
2023 marks the 17th straight year that the Delaware Spirit Program has brought national championships back to Newark. Overall, the Blue Hen spirit teams have won 27 national championships (10 from Cheer, eight from Dance and nine from Mascot).
ADRIENNE KAMALSKY
8 University of Delaware Magazine