Florida A&M University (FAMU) has secured a two-year, $321,000 subaward to expand student research in geospatial science and artificial intelligence for ocean sensing. The funding is part of the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Blue Integrated Partnership (BIP 2.0), a national initiative led by Purdue University with a total grant amount of $9.89 million.
The BIP 2.0 project, headed by Luciano Castillo, Ph.D., at Purdue University, aims to mentor a diverse STEM workforce to address future environmental and national security challenges. FAMU will use its share to support student research and workforce development focused on geospatial science, nearshore mapping, and AI-enabled marine sensing.
Provost Allyson L. Watson said the initiative demonstrates the university’s commitment to expanding experiential learning and strengthening federal partnerships that enhance student success. “This project places our students at the intersection of data, environment, and national priorities,” Watson said. “By engaging in applied research alongside federal and academic partners, they develop the skills and perspective required to solve complex problems beyond the classroom.”
FAMU’s role in this effort is supported by ongoing collaborations led by Rosny Jean, Ph.D., assistant professor of geospatial and environmental analysis in the School of the Environment. Jean works with agencies such as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Newport, Rhode Island. He developed SHIP-AID, an algorithm that uses deep learning and geospatial analytics to detect underwater hazards.
“This partnership creates tremendous opportunities for our students to work on real-world problems that matter,” Jean said. “Whether they are engaged in geospatial science applications, ocean modeling or advanced machine learning algorithms, our students gain hands-on experience that prepares them for careers in defense innovation and environmental intelligence.”
The project will provide FAMU students with training opportunities including research assistantships, coastal fieldwork experiences, computational modeling work, and collaboration across institutions within the consortium.
More information about the Blue Integrated Partnerships consortium can be found at blueintegratedpartners.org. Additional details about FAMU’s School of the Environment research initiatives are available through their official channels.
