The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Continuing to unfold the president's panel on Ocean Exploration recommendations for ocean literacy

Technology enables each advancement made in exploration, from the poles to the deepest reaches of the ocean, to the moon and beyond. Discovery of new life forms at hydrothermal vents was made possible by submersible vehicle technology, and continued enhancements in satellite sensor technologies provide ever-improving discoveries of planetary scale changes like those due to El Nino and those talking place in the deepest parts of the ocean. It is cutting-edge technology that enables us to expand the boundaries of the known world while engaging all who wish to be involved in these discoveries in real-time. At the same time, these ever-emerging technological capabilities provide compelling incentives for students to get close-up looks at scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics ocean-related careers. With the unprecedented advancements in all areas of technology, learning is no longer restricted to a place and time, and students are perhaps the most profoundly affected by this evolution in how they learn and where they learn than any other segment of our society.