Speakers

Talk title: Aquaculture Robotics in Practice: Bridging Basic Research with Industrial Applications

Bio: Recently earned his PhD from the MIT–WHOI Joint Program, where he developed autonomous robotic systems for scientific exploration in the ocean. His research combined machine learning, robotic perception, and control with novel hardware platforms to enable robots to thrive in complex, dynamic environments. He is particularly interested in how robots interact with both natural ecosystems and animals. Prior to his PhD, Cai worked on autonomous construction systems at the MIT Media Lab and on path planning and modular robotics at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Talk title: Offshore Robotics: Autonomous Hybrid Aerial Underwater Vehicles and Their Challenges

Bio: He is an Associate Professor at FURG, where he leads the NAUTEC Intelligent Robotics and Automation Group and directs the iTec/FURG EMBRAPII Unit. His research focuses on robotics, computer vision, and underwater systems, including image restoration, localization, and hybrid aerial–underwater vehicles. Recognized with the SBA Young Researcher Award (2024) and ranked among the world’s top 2% most impactful researchers, he also serves as Vice President of the Brazilian Robotics Society and Chair of the IEEE South Brazil RAS Chapter. 

Talk title: Gaussian Splatting and Multimodal Perception for Robust Marine Robotics

Bio: She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Robotics at the University of Michigan, with a courtesy appointment in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Her research advances underwater robotics, focusing on perception, mapping, and autonomy to enable reliable marine exploration in complex and uncertain environments. A recipient of the NSF CAREER Award and the ONR Young Investigator Award, Dr. Skinner’s work bridges robotics, computer vision, and ocean science.

Talk title: Challenges in Marine Robotics for Oceanographic Data Collection

Bio: He is a senior researcher at MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, and head of its Marine Technology Group. He holds a doctorate in Marine Geosciences and has more than three decades of experience in underwater robotics and marine technology. His work focuses on the development and operation of AUVs, ROVs, and hybrid systems for deep-sea exploration, with contributions spanning navigation, mapping, and communication technologies. Dr. Meinecke has led and supported numerous international research expeditions and projects, advancing innovation in oceanographic research infrastructure.