Inaugural Blue@RWU Symposium Showcases Blue Tech Solutions to Global Ocean Challenges
Faculty, staff, and students share their marine science and engineering research efforts aimed at driving sustainability and innovation in the Blue Economy.
BRISTOL, R.I. – The first-ever Blue@RWU event, held on Feb. 10 as part of a statewide Blue Innovation Symposium, highlighted the interdisciplinary research led by Roger Williams University faculty, staff, and students to address environmental and economic challenges in the regional Blue Economy and their collaborative efforts with businesses and institutions to explore groundbreaking solutions, from blue technology concepts to aquaculture sustainability.
The symposium featured RWU marine science and engineering faculty members discussing their work and the benefits of academia, industry, and government working together to inspire new research in marine science and blue technology. Participants toured the RWU Marine and Natural Sciences building’s research laboratories and shellfish hatchery, hearing from faculty and students engaging in groundbreaking work that addresses real-world concerns in aquaculture and marine biology.
“Roger Williams University has been at the forefront of marine science education for 50 years, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and research experience needed to drive the Blue Economy forward,” said Margaret Everett, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Roger Williams University. “Our faculty and students are tackling some of the most pressing challenges in marine sustainability, from habitat restoration to climate change, and we see immense potential in collaborating with the tech sector to develop innovative solutions. By fostering conversations between science and industry, we can unlock new opportunities for partnership and ensure the long-term sustainability of our oceans.”
At the event, Roger Williams University announced the development of a Blue Solutions Institute as the next evolution of our marine science leadership and training our graduates to become the leaders and entrepreneurs driving the Blue Economy. This interdisciplinary initiative will bring together the marine and natural sciences, engineering, and business programs fostering collaborative research and innovation and offer new curriculum, including pathways that combine undergraduate marine science with the M.B.A. program, and undergraduate Blue Entrepreneurship coursework that teaches students the science and the business of designing blue solutions for the oceans and coastal communities. The Blue Solutions Institute will also include the Blue Fellows Program, which supports RWU student participation in blue research and business internships, both on campus and with partner organizations.
“At Roger Williams University, we take pride in fostering powerful combinations, bringing together disciplines like marine biology, aquarium science, and business to prepare our students for the growing Blue Economy,” said Koty Sharp, Director of RWU's Center for Economic and Environmental Development, which sponsored the Blue@RWU event. “Through the Blue Solutions Institute, we are creating opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience, gain career-ready skills, and become the next generation of blue entrepreneurs who will develop new technology and innovative solutions that drive this field forward. We are eager to partner with organizations that share our vision of training the next generation of leaders in blue technology and sustainability.”
As keynote speaker, Lawrence Feinberg, founder of KnipBio and adjunct faculty member who is co-teaching the new Blue Entrepreneurship course at RWU through the Blue Solutions Institute, discussed the powerful combination of academia and entrepreneurs partnering to address some of the world’s biggest problems. Using the example of the collaborative work between KnipBio and RWU to develop a sustainable aquaculture feed solution, Feinberg highlighted the role of aquaculture in supporting the global food system and the efforts that are making an impact in the rapidly growing aquaculture industry.
“The Blue Economy isn’t just a local opportunity; it’s a global necessity,” said Feinberg. “With aquaculture playing an increasingly vital role in feeding the world, we need bold ideas and real solutions to make it sustainable. That’s where RWU comes in. The research and innovation happening here, at the intersection of marine biology, chemistry, and technology, are helping to shape the future of aquaculture. I’m proud that some of the foundational work for KnipBio was done right here at Roger Williams University, where students gain real-world laboratory experience tackling the same challenges industry leaders are facing worldwide.”
Throughout the symposium, attendees were able to engage with student-led research projects that illustrated the university's real-world education and the many ways RWU faculty and students are collaborating with industry and entrepreneurial partners on blue-tech research.
Konnor Collins, a senior Marine Biology major with minors in Mathematics and Sustainability Studies, from Broken Arrow, Okla., is combining his diverse academic background with hands-on research in RWU CEED’s Aquatic Diagnostic Laboratory. His independent research project focuses on developing a method that uses underwater robots to collect wild seawater and pair that with a sophisticated DNA-based technology to detect the presence of shellfish pathogens and other bacteria that threaten marine life and human health. Through his work in the ADL with faculty mentor Galit Sharon, and in collaboration with Jaia Robotics, a Bristol-based company that builds underwater robots for aquatic data collection, Collins is working on the first step toward “smart” real-time monitoring of seawater microbial landscapes, which are changing in the face of ocean warming and human use.
“Collaborations like these are important to me because they remind me how connected these very different fields of research can be,” said Collins, who will be presenting his work later this spring at the annual meeting of the World Aquaculture Society. “Working with Jaia has broadened my perspective of the scientific community. Although I am a Marine Biology major here at RWU, I am working with very innovative engineers, and I am excited to collaborate directly with the leaders who will help to bring this technology to the field. Together we created something that can really have a profound impact on coastal sustainability and management.”
This is just one example of how RWU is fostering academia-industry collaborations through its Center for Economic and Environmental Development, which stand to transform the aquaculture industry and across the spectrum of Blue Economy innovations that improve the health of our coastal waterways and ocean-based economy.
With coastal and soil erosion threatening ecosystems and communities, Josie Poulin and Camden Poitras investigated whether plant-based resin could serve as a sustainable protective barrier. Poulin, a senior Environmental Science and Sustainability Studies major from Marblehead, Mass., and Poitras, a junior Mechanical and Electrical Engineering major from Londonderry, N.H., created and tested 3D-printed resin slats by submerging the material in saltwater tanks and exposing it to ultraviolet light. They are continuing to analyze how the resin withstands environmental stressors and its potential for large-scale application.
“I transferred to Roger Williams last January because I was drawn to the blue tech industry, and being part of this research has solidified that passion,” Poitras said. “At my former school, I didn’t have opportunities like this, so collaborating with my professors and Josie on such an impactful project has been amazing. Studying the material properties of sustainable alternatives is crucial, and I see this research as a gateway to a future career in blue tech.”