A New Age of Ocean Exploration
Oceanology International speaks to Dr Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of The Schmidt Ocean Institute, about the integrated technology advances which are revolutionizing our ability to discover and characterize new underwater sites and marine life.
Dr. Jyotika Virmani is The Schmidt Ocean Institute’s first Executive Director. With an extensive background in science and innovation, Jyotika leads the global philanthropic foundation in its work to advance the field of oceanographic science through research and technology.
Jyotika is a committee member and speaker at Oi24’s Catch the Next Wave conference.
Announcing several awe-inspiring seafloor discoveries in 2023, including new hydrothermal vent fields, pristine cold-water coral fields and huge sea mounts, The Schmidt Ocean Institute has had an incredible year of expeditions with its new research vessel, Falkor (too). The philanthropic institute was established in 2009, operating their former research vessel Falkor and the 4500m remotely operated underwater robotic vehicle, SuBastian, with a mission to advance oceanographic research.
Executive Director Dr Jyotika Virmani envisions an acceleration in ocean exploration capabilities in the decade ahead, as technologies are honed and integrated to enable the mapping and research of unknown areas of the seafloor – an essential element of understanding our planet and its complex ecosystems.
Interested in hearing more and learning from industry experts?
Join us at Oceanology International and expand your Blue Tech and Ocean knowledge through strategic conferences.
March 10-12, 2026 | ExCeL London
She said: “We are in the middle of a very exciting time for ocean technology. We have really seen a huge shift in autonomous and robotic technology. Even walking around the Oceanology International floor about 5 years ago, compared to what it was last year when I last attended, there was a huge change in where the focus has been as far as robotics and autonomous technology goes.
“What I am looking forward to now is the next stage in the evolution of integrated sensors of different types onto those platforms. So not only for physics but for biological sensors. There is a lot of work going on as far as improving our biological sensing capability. What I would like, and where I think we are heading in the future, is to do bio-diversity assessments and discover marine life, that exists, but is new to us, without taking creatures out of the water - to do it all in-situ, identify everything in the water, using robotics and autonomous technology, using advanced camera systems.
“I see some fantastic advances in material science. eDNA [environmental DNA] is coming along really nicely. Then there is the integration of all of that with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. I think we have already started our journey in this new age of ocean exploration and I think that journey will just get faster and faster in the next decade.
“Underlaying all of this is a seafloor map. We still don’t know where things are – that will be another huge leap forward. For example, sea mounts are known for their biodiversity. This year alone at The Schmidt Ocean Institute, the scientists who sailed with our new vessel found four new hydrothermal vent fields, two new coral fields, three sea mounts, a new octopus nursery ground – and an entire new ecosystem – that’s just since March. On planet Earth, to find a new ecosystem is amazing! We think we’ve seen it all and know it all – not yet!”
Explore the latest technologies shaping the future of Ocean Exploration, Sustainability and the Blue Economy
March 10-12, 2026 | ExCeL London
Interested in hearing more and learning from industry experts?
Jyotika Virmani is one of the leading speakers at Oceanology International’s Catch the Next Wave conference on Thursday, 14th March, the final day of Oi24. On the headline topic of The Future Evolution of Key Enabling Technologies, Jyotika will deliver a futuristic view of the evolution of sensor technology, ranging from quantum sensors to eDNA.
Join us at Oceanology International and expand your Blue Tech and Ocean knowledge through strategic conferences.
March 12-14 2024 at ExCeL London
Be updated with Oceanology International and follow us on social media
Looking for something else?
For further information, please contact:
Mike Enser, Marketing Manager
Oceanology International
Tel: +44 (0)20 8439 5226
[email protected]
Karen Bartlett
Saltwater
Tel: +44 (0)1202 669244
[email protected]
About the Oceanology International Portfolio
Oceanology International – Connecting the global ocean technology, engineering and science communities
Oceanology International (Oi) is the global forum where the ocean industry, academia and government connect to discover innovative solutions from the ocean technology and marine science communities to improve strategies for exploring, protecting and sustainably operating in the world’s oceans and waterways. Held at ExCeL London, Oi brings together ocean professionals, facilitates ocean connections and showcases ocean innovation and technology.
www.oceanologyinternational.com
Oi exhibition and conference incorporates various events and features, including:
- COAST - The Coastal and Shallow Water Zone
New for 2026, COAST at Oceanology International offers exhibitors a unique platform to showcase their solutions, technologies, and expertise to a highly targeted and engaged audience from across the global coastal and shallow water community.
- Conference Program – Diving deep into the realm of ocean science and marine technology
Featuring a compelling line-up of industry-leading speakers, the full strategic Oi Conference Program encompasses a diverse range of Technical Sessions and Ocean Futures-focused content across different conference locations. World-class scientists, thought leaders and innovators in the vanguard of the global ocean technology community will converge to bring insightful and original content.
- Ocean Futures Theatre – Meeting future ocean technology needs
Thought leaders from industry, academia and government come together to discuss meeting future ocean technology needs in line with market developments and new ocean enterprise strategies. Held in the keynote Ocean Futures Theatre within Oi, it features panel discussions and strategic debates on topics including Transitioning the Ocean Economy, Sustainable Offshore Operations, BlueTech Investment and Future Talent/Careers.
- Dockside Demonstrations
Oceanology International’s dockside activity is a hallmark feature of the event, offering visitors live, in-water demonstrations of the latest ocean technology and equipment. Attendees have the unique opportunity to see cutting-edge remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous systems, sonar, imaging, and hydrographic survey tools in real-world action, guided by experts. These demonstrations take place at the Royal Victoria Dock, where multiple brands and vessels showcase novel capabilities—allowing participants to closely observe technological innovations and interact with operators, all with the goal of experiencing emerging solutions for marine and subsea applications firsthand.
About RX
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.
About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX.
*Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at https://www.relx.com/investor.