Florida International University research assistant professor Mark Bond has been selected as a lead scientist for the maiden voyage of REV, one of many world’s most superior research vessels devoted to ocean science and conservation. Bond will supervise research for the Heart of the Caribbean expedition, which can collect vital scientific knowledge wanted to help the creation of the Atlantic Ocean’s first multinational marine protected space, spanning waters linked to Haiti, Jamaica and all through the area.
The expedition is certainly one of 10 partner-led missions chosen by mother or father group REV Ocean for the vessel’s inaugural Maiden Voyage Science Program, which can happen from May 2027 by September 2028. FIU’s Institute of Environment serves as a key scientific companion within the initiative, with Bond main a workforce of scientists from the Caribbean Biological Corridor, Wildlife Conservation Society and Bimini Biological Field Station to advance research and conservation planning in one of many least-explored areas of the Caribbean.
“The Heart of the Caribbean Expedition brings together scientists, conservation practitioners, technical specialists and government representatives from across the Caribbean region and beyond,” Bond said. “We cannot protect what we do not understand, and this expedition represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to explore and better understand one of the Caribbean’s critically important marine ecosystems.”
Scheduled for May and June 2028, the Heart of the Caribbean expedition will investigate deep-sea ecosystems, biodiversity, oceanographic processes and ecological connectivity across the region. Scientists will use REV’s advanced capabilities to explore seamounts and deep-ocean habitats at depths of up to 5,700 meters, many of which have never been systematically surveyed.
Researchers will focus on sharks and rays, marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds and deep-sea communities while collecting environmental DNA, oceanographic and habitat mapping data. The findings will help identify ecologically significant areas and inform future marine spatial planning and conservation efforts throughout the Caribbean.
The Heart of the Caribbean mission also aligns with global efforts to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030. Beyond its scientific objectives, the expedition will provide training and technology-transfer opportunities for Caribbean researchers and resource managers.
REV Ocean announced the Maiden Voyage Science Program during the 2026 Our Ocean Conference in Kenya this week. The vessel’s inaugural research season will span the South Atlantic, Caribbean, Sargasso Sea and Eastern Tropical Pacific, supporting marine science, conservation and policy development through partnerships with leading institutions around the world.
“FIU is dedicated to growing the science that helps construct a extra resilient future,” mentioned Mike Heithaus, FIU vice provost of environmental resilience. ”The challenges facing our oceans don’t stop at national boundaries, and neither can the solutions. FIU is proud to help lead international efforts that advance ocean conservation, strengthen regional resilience and ensure future generations benefit from healthy, thriving marine ecosystems.”
At 195 meters (roughly 640 ft), REV is supplied with 9 laboratories, superior oceanographic devices and deep-sea automobiles able to reaching depths of as much as 6,000 meters. Its onboard submersible and remotely operated car are outfitted with 4K cameras, sensors and sampling gear for finding out marine life and seafloor ecosystems. High-speed satellite tv for pc connectivity allows stay communication and streaming from the ship, together with from deep beneath the ocean’s floor, permitting scientists to discover and pattern among the most distant elements of the ocean.
All 10 missions within the maiden voyage will advance ocean science and help marine safety and coverage work, whereas finishing the ultimate stage of operational validation earlier than REV transitions to a longer-term open-access research mannequin. All knowledge from the science program will probably be shared by the Ocean Data Platform and different related platforms, to make sure findings stay accessible to companions, policymakers and researchers after every mission ends.