Pasadena Student Selected for Deep-Sea Expedition

Diego Johansen, a Pasadena native and student at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, has been selected to join the expedition season aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, operated by the nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust.

Johansen is one of 14 interns chosen from hundreds of applicants for the Science & Engineering Internship Program. He will serve as a Seafloor Mapping & Hydrology Intern during a 22-day mission in August and September, exploring deep-sea habitats near Howland and Baker Islands in the Western Pacific.

“I’m incredibly excited to join the E/V Nautilus team in mapping uncharted seafloor and contributing to the broader mission of Seabed 2030, advancing ocean exploration, scientific discovery, and marine conservation. I’m looking forward to working alongside and learning from some of the top oceanographers and scientists in the world. It’s an amazing opportunity,” Johansen said.

Founded in 2007 by famed oceanographer Robert Ballard, Ocean Exploration Trust is a nonprofit dedicated to exploring unknown parts of the ocean while promoting STEAM education and technological innovation.

Expeditions aboard the E/V Nautilus use advanced mapping tools, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and telepresence systems to conduct scientific research and engage the public.

As a Seafloor Mapping & Hydrography Engineering Intern, Johansen will learn to acquire, manage, and process seafloor mapping data using a multibeam sonar, sub-bottom profiler, and auxiliary sensors such as CTD and XBT. The internship provides real-world experience in an at-sea environment, helping students develop academic interests and professional career paths in ocean and atmospheric sciences, seafloor mapping, systems engineering, film production, and underwater vehicle design.

The public can follow the expedition live via NautilusLive.org, a 24-hour streaming portal that connects audiences worldwide to the ship’s discoveries. Local schools, summer programs and community groups are encouraged to schedule free, live one-on-one Q&A sessions with onboard explorers, available daily.

The Nautilus expeditions are supported by the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the U.S. Geological Survey. Additional sponsors include the Office of Naval Research, QPS and the Phillip Stephenson Foundation.

For more information, visit www.NautilusLive.org or follow @NautilusLive and @EVNautilus on social media.