George Voulgaris - Ocean Observatories Initiative

NSF Large Facilities Team Visits OOI at WHOI

By ooistaff | June 28, 2023 |

Representatives from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Large Facilities Office visited Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) on Monday June 26-Tuesday June 27 to get a first-hand look at the various facilities at WHOI supported by the NSF. The visit kicked off at LOSOS on the Quissett Campus with a discussion of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), followed by a tour of its facilities.

OOI’s program office (PMO) is located at WHOI and led by Principle Investigator Jim Edson. On Monday morning, Edson welcomed the NSF visitors, introduced the PMO team, and provided an overview of OOI’s organization, operations, and how scientists are using its data to expand understanding of ocean processes and conditions. OOI Senior Program Manager Paul Matthias followed with a technical presentation of how this large and complex program is managed, kept on budget with continuous collection and disseminating of OOI data.

[media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_1148-2-scaled.jpg" link="#"]WHOI Assistant Scientist Hilde Oliver gave a lightning talk on how she used OOI data to explain the role of wind in ephemeral surface chlorophyll enhancement at the New England Shelf Break. [/media-caption]

A Q&A session was held over lunch. The afternoon session commenced with virtual presentations by the OOI Data Center at Oregon State University, followed by a review of major components, organization, and operations of three OOI components – Coastal Endurance Array at Oregon State University, Coastal and Global Scale Nodes at WHOI, and the Regional Cabled Array at the University of Washington. A tour of LOSOS followed the presentations.

[media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_1163-scaled.jpg" link="#"]OOI Instrumentation Lead Jennifer Batryn took apart an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) during a tour of the LOSOS electronics lab during an NSF visit. [/media-caption]

The NSF visitors attending the daylong session focused on OOI were Linnea Avallone, Chief Officer for NSF Research Facilities, Jim McManus, Director Division of Ocean Sciences, and George Voulgaris, OOI Program Manager. Rose Dufour, Program Director Ship Operations, joined the group for a tour of the OOI facilities in LOSOS.

“We were delighted to have the opportunity to show off the technically advanced and rugged OOI ocean observing equipment and the amazing talents of the team who designs, builds, maintains, and keeps this equipment operating in difficult conditions to our NSF colleagues,” said Jim Edson, Lead PI of OOI’s Program Office. “Seeing the size and scope of the equipment firsthand gives one a real understanding of the complexity of OOI operations and the importance of the data being collected and integrated into research.”

The NSF visitors returned to WHOI on Tuesday morning to visit and learn more about other NSF-sponsored programs at WHOI, including a visit to the National Deep Submergence Facility, ship operations, the Northeast U.S. Shelf (NES) Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project, and the Center for Chemical Currencies of a Microbial Planet.

OOI Program Director George Voulgaris spent the second day of his visit to WHOI with members of OOI’s Program Office and the Coastal and Global Scale Nodes (CGSN) team. On Tuesday, CGSN members showed off their northern LOSOS facility, where they were burning in equipment for deployment at the Global Irminger Sea Array this summer and testing two Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) prior to deployment. The visit ended with a pizza lunch that provided Voulgaris an opportunity to meet all members of the CGSN team and learn more about their individual roles and responsibilities.

[media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_1168-scaled.jpg" link="#"]George Voulgaris, OOI Program Manager (left) discusses mooring issues with OOI Senior Program Manager Paul Matthias, and OOI Lead Jim Edson during a tour of the LOSOS outdoor facility, where segments of OOI moorings are stored prior to mobilization. [/media-caption] [media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_1172-scaled.jpg" link="#"]OOI Coastal and Global Scale Nodes Project Manager Derek Buffitt explains the components that comprise the Multi-Function Node, which holds the anchor and instrumentation near the bottom of the OOI arrays, to Linnea Avallone, Chief Officer for NSF Research Facilities during a tour of OOI LOSOS. [/media-caption] [media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_1197-scaled.jpg" link="#"]OOI Glider Lead Peter Brickley explains the operation of the tail fin and air bladder of an OOI glider to NSF OOI Program Director George Voulgaris. [/media-caption] [media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_1226-scaled.jpg" link="#"]NSF OOI Program Director George Voulgaris (left) reviews the components of a global surface mooring with OOI Senior Engineer John Lund and Research Engineer James Kuo. [/media-caption] [media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/IMG_1235-scaled.jpg" link="#"]Glider Lead Peter Brickley explains the operations of the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), REMUS to NSF OOI Program Director George Voulgaris. Diana Wickman, left rear, who keeps the AUVs operational was on hand for the presentation and to answer questions about the vehicle’s operations, as well. [/media-caption]

Photos taken by Darlene Trew Crist © WHOI.

Visit to West Coast OOI Facilities

By ooistaff | February 13, 2023 |

A group of Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) leaders visited OOI facilities at Oregon State University and the University of Washington last week to get a first-hand look at operations of the Coastal Endurance Array and Regional Cabled Array, respectively. National Science Foundation Program Director George Voulgaris, OOI Principal Investigator Jim Edson and Senior Program Manager Paul Matthias spent five days on the road meeting with their OOI west coast colleagues. The trip was designed to give recently appointed Voulgaris an opportunity to inspect the infrastructure and meet team members who keep the Coastal Endurance and Regional Cabled Arrays operational and reporting back data around the clock. Edson and Matthias seized the opportunity to meet in person with colleagues who they routinely see on the screen.

The following provides a glimpse of some of the activities that occurred during the trip:

[media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230207_140014.jpg" link="#"]Grant Dunn, Mechanical Engineer with the Electronic & Photonic Systems Department at UW-APL (left) describes the level-wind system on the RCA profiler mooring to Dr. George Voulgaris during a tour of the RCA laboratory facilities at the University of Washington as RCA Project Manager Brian Ittig looks on. Credit: Paul K. Matthias © WHOI.[/media-caption] [media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230207_144911.jpg" link="#"]Regional Cabled Array Principal Investigator Deborah Kelley (left) and OOI Senior Program Manager Paul Matthias take a selfie to commemorate their in-person visit during a tour of the RCA facilities at the University of Washington. Credit: Paul K. Matthias © WHOI.[/media-caption] [media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230207_141656.jpg" link="#"]NSF Program Director George Voulgaris (from left), OOI Principal Investigator Jim Edson look on as Regional Cabled Array technicians Grant Dunn, Mechanical Engineer with the Electronic & Photonic Systems Department at UW-APL, and RCA Chief Engineer Chuck McGuire explain the engineering associated with the RCA profiler mooring during a tour of RCA’s facilities at the University of Washington. Credit: Paul K. Matthias © WHOI.[/media-caption] [media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230209_123758.jpg" link="#"]NSF Program Director George Voulgaris (left) asks OSU technician Jonathan Whitefield questions about glider operations that provide critical water column data around the moorings of the Coastal Endurance Array. Credit: Paul K. Matthias © WHOI.[/media-caption] [media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230207_112718.jpg" link="#"]NSF Program Director George Voulgaris (foreground) and RCA Chief Engineer Chuck McGuire discuss the RCA data monitoring systems as OOI PI Jim Edson points to real-time data on the screen being relayed by instrumentation on the Regional Cabled Array. Credit: Paul K. Matthias © WHOI.[/media-caption] [media-caption path="https://oceanobservatories.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/20230209_130353.jpg" link="#"]NSF Program Director George Voulgaris (left) gets a hands-on look at the multiple instruments contained on multi-function node that will sit on the bottom of the ocean floor for six months collecting data for the Coastal Endurance Array. Coastal Endurance Array Principal Investigator Ed Dever (middle) and Project Manager Jonathan Fram the functionality of each instrument during the visit to Oregon State University. Credit: Paul K. Matthias © WHOI.[/media-caption]

Dr. George Voulgaris Appointed New OOI Program Director

By ooistaff | August 25, 2022 |

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the appointment of Dr. George Voulgaris as the new Program Director for the NSF-funded Ocean Observatories Initiative. Voulgaris joins NSF from the School of Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of South Carolina, where he was a full professor and held a variety of administrative appointments throughout his career. Voulgaris assumes the OOI leadership role that was jointly provided by NSF Section Heads, Lisa M. Clough, Ocean Section, and Bauke (Bob) H. Houtman, Integrative Programs since 2016. Bob retired at the end of 2022, but Lisa continues to support George in his new role and remains engaged with the OOI Facility.

This position marks a return to NSF for Voulgaris who served as a Program Director for NSF’s Physical Oceanography Program from July 2017 to August 2020.

Lisa Clough said, “Bob and I are excited to be turning over the reins of the OOI at NSF to George, who is very well-suited to the task. George has more than 30 years-experience in ocean observations systems, as well as 3+ years of experience as an NSF program director. With this experience, he brings to OOI the unique perspective of understanding what quality ocean observations require from standpoint of a system operator, scientist and educator, and as a federal funder. Unquestionably, George will help the OOI deliver on its mission to be one of the world’s premier ocean observing systems.”

Voulgaris plans to facilitate the work of OOI operators and the OOI Facility Board (OOIFB) as both respond to the challenges and opportunities informed by the broader oceanographic community. “Coming from an institution with no major oceanographic facilities, I have a great appreciation of the opportunities OOI provides to faculty, researchers, and students with no access to such facilities,” Voulgaris explained. “I hope to help OOI continue to provide these services and further enhance its impact through new scientific discoveries and synergies with other partners vested in ocean discovery and through new emerging technologies. I am excited be a part of OOI as its impact grows both nationally and internationally.”

Voulgaris joined the University of South Carolina as Assistant Professor in 1998 and was promoted to the ranks of Associate and Full Professor in 2005 and 2008, respectively. His research is in the area of Coastal Processes incorporating aspects of both Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography. His many externally funded research projects (e.g., NSF, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of the Interior) range from exploring the surf-zone to continental shelf circulation and often include assessing sediment transport and wave-current interactions, using hydrodynamic and turbulence measurements in the field and laboratory. For the last decade, he has been active in operational oceanography utilizing coupled wave and current numerical models and HF and VHF Radar measurements for measuring surface currents and ocean waves.

Voulgaris has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 130 published abstracts and 45 technical reports, source-codes, and other non-refereed publications. In recognition of his research contributions, he was awarded the University of South Carolina Research Foundation award for Science and Mathematics in 2014. Voulgaris has served as a member of the Scientific Committee of the Key Laboratory for Coast and Island Development, Ministry of Education, Nanjing University, China, and on the Board of Directors for the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association. Voulgaris is also a member of the American Geophysical Union, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Marine Technology Society.

Voulgaris received a bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Patras in Greece and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom.

The Ocean Observatories Initiative is a 25-year ocean infrastructure project funded by the National Science Foundation to gather and deliver physical, chemical, and biological measurements from the ocean, atmosphere, and seafloor to anyone with an internet connection. The program includes moored instrument arrays and autonomous underwater vehicles deployed at critical locations in the coastal and open ocean worldwide. Data from the observatories help researchers address questions across short and long time periods, small and large spatial scales, and from the ocean surface to the seafloor. OOI is managed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and implemented by WHOI, the University of Washington, and Oregon State University.