Seminars
Explore our upcoming seminars featuring faculty, industry partners, and guest speakers sharing the latest insights in research, innovation, and professional development.
Lei Zuo, Ph.D., Herbert C. Sadler Collegiate Professor of Engineering
Director of NSF IUCRC Center GO Blue University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
July 22, 2026: 12:00pm (noon)
https://umich.zoom.us/j/7346609328
Meeting ID: 734 660 9328
Passcode: GOBlue
Join us for an engaging presentation by Dr. Lei Zuo, Herbert C. Sadler Collegiate Professor of Engineering at the University of Michigan and Director of the NSF IUCRC GO Blue Center.
Engineering, Socioenvironmental and Economic Convergence of Ocean Wave Energy Research for Remote Coastal Communities explores how engineering innovation, community engagement, and techno-economic analysis are advancing practical wave energy solutions for remote coastal and island communities. Dr. Zuo will share recent research, prototype development, and opportunities for collaboration in the growing Blue Economy.
Maha Haji, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Michigan
July 22, 2026: 12:00pm (noon)
https://umich.zoom.us/j/7346609328
Meeting ID: 734 660 9328
Passcode: GOBlue
Join us for a presentation by Dr. Maha Haji, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Symbiotic Offshore Systems: Designing Persistent Infrastructure for the Blue Economy explores how integrated engineering approaches are transforming offshore infrastructure by combining renewable energy, robotics, autonomous systems, and advanced optimization. Dr. Haji will discuss innovative research on wave energy, offshore robotics, and multifunctional ocean platforms that support applications including environmental monitoring, desalination, hydrogen production, and autonomous marine operations.
Discover how systems-level design is helping create more resilient, efficient, and economically viable technologies to advance the future of the Blue Economy.
Dave Malak, Vice President and Senior Project Engineer Hibbard Inshore, LLC
June 17, 2026, from 12:00–1:00 PM (EST) Zoom Link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/96947271008
Zoom Passcode: 483598
Join us for an engaging seminar exploring how Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are transforming the Blue Economy. As offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, and marine research continue to expand, advanced underwater robotics are improving safety, reducing operational costs, and increasing efficiency in subsea inspection, maintenance, and data collection. Presented by Hibbard Inshore, this session will highlight real-world applications, emerging technologies, and future workforce opportunities in subsea automation and marine robotics.
ROV and AUV Roles in Powering the Blue Economy while Increasing Project Efficiency and Safety
Dr. Taewoo Nam, Ph.D., Senior Principal Scientist
Future Mobility Research Department
Toyota Research Institute of North America
May 13, 2026, from 12:00–1:00 PM (EST) in Room 236 (Rosenblatt Room) of the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME) building at the University of Michigan.
For the Zoom option, please use the following link:
https://umich.zoom.us/j/99668240993
Passcode: 390308
“Toyota Mothership Research Project and Marine Applications”
Dr. Philipp Stratmann, President & CEO, Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
March 25, 2026, from 1:00–2:30 PM (EST) in Room 301, ABS Engineering Center at Stevens Institute of Technology (711 Hudson St, Hoboken, NJ)
Join us for a seminar exploring how Ocean Power Technologies is deploying integrated ocean sensing systems in real-world conditions. The talk will highlight the use of marine renewable energy, autonomous surface vehicles, and intelligent sensing platforms, such as PowerBuoy and WAM-V, as networked ISR nodes supporting defense, offshore energy, and maritime security. Attendees will also learn about the engineering challenges of operating in harsh ocean environments, as well as emerging opportunities for research collaboration and careers in autonomous ocean systems.
“Deploying Ocean Sensing Nodes in Real World Conditions”
Dr. Mucun Sun
Power System Research Engineer,
Power & Energy Systems Group,
Integrated Energy and Storage Systems Division,
Idaho National Laboratory
February 19, 2026 |1:00–2:30 p.m. (EST)
Room 301 in ABS Engineering Center, Stevens Institute of Technology
711 Hudson St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
NSF IUCRC GO Blue Center Monthly Seminar Series
Join us for a seminar exploring how hybrid renewable energy systems are transforming the future of power generation in water-rich and offshore environments. Researchers from Idaho National Laboratory (INL) will present cutting-edge work focused on integrating hydropower, floating solar, offshore wind, energy storage, and transmission infrastructure to create more reliable, resilient, and economically viable energy systems.
The presentation will highlight feasibility studies of floating photovoltaic (FPV) and hydropower hybrid systems using INL’s AquaPV modeling platform, demonstrating how advanced techno-economic analysis can inform deployment decisions and quantify system value. Attendees will also learn about innovative approaches to offshore wind integration, including dynamic line rating techniques that can increase transmission capacity while maintaining system reliability.
This seminar will provide valuable insights into renewable energy planning, grid modernization, marine energy commercialization, and the tools needed to accelerate the transition to sustainable and resilient energy systems.
Chris Vermillion, Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Michigan
January 14, 2026 |12:00–12:30 p.m. (EST)
Rosenblatt Room, Room 236 in the NA&ME Building
2600 Draper Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Virtual Option: https://stevens.zoom.us/j/95837439833?from=addon
Join us for an engaging seminar exploring how marine renewable energy can power the future of the blue economy. Researchers from the University of Michigan’s Control and Optimization for Renewables and Energy Efficiency (CORE) Lab will showcase innovative technologies that harness ocean currents and waves to provide sustainable energy for ocean observing systems, autonomous vehicles, and coastal communities.
The presentation will highlight energy-harvesting underwater kites capable of generating power in previously inaccessible locations, advanced mission-planning strategies for long-duration autonomous marine vehicles, and the WEC-Mobile—a novel wave-powered platform designed to provide emergency energy generation and desalination for island communities following natural disasters.
Dr. Devesh Upadhyay, CTO of Saab, will be the speaker for the Inaugural GO BLUE Center Seminar, held jointly with the final NA&ME Research Seminar of the fall semester, on Friday, December 5th, 2025 from 12–1PM
“Rapidly Evolving Autonomy and AI Solutions for the Maritime Domain.”