President's Slate
May 2026

Colleagues:
As we move into May, I hope you’re doing so with clarity, purpose, and momentum. Your Academy and Board of Directors are advancing a number of key initiatives, and the energy behind this work is strong.

At the end of March, the Board came together in Lake Tahoe, California for a 2.5-day strategic planning retreat. It was a focused and productive session, grounded in honest assessment of where we are today and a bold vision for where we want to be by 2031. That vision is ambitious, and now the real work is underway: refining priorities, translating them into clear, actionable objectives, and identifying the people who will carry them forward. Having been part of several planning processes, I can say this one stands out. The level of engagement, alignment, and commitment from your Board is exceptional. I’m proud of the course we are charting and the discipline we’re bringing to achieving it.

This time of year also brings momentum around funding and internships. In partnership with the AAUS Foundation, applications are open for Research, Professional Development, and Dive Training scholarships, all with a June 30 deadline.

We’re also proud to continue the Kevin Flanagan Student Travel Award, which supports student attendance at AAUS scientific meetings. Established with Kevin’s family, this award honors his legacy by creating opportunities for students to engage in the work he cared deeply about. Applications close May 31.

I encourage you to explore these opportunities and reach out with any questions.

This year, for the 3rd consecutive year, Shannon Point Marine Center at Western Washington University will host both the AAUS/OWUSS Dr. Lee H. Somers Scientific Diving
Internship and the Mitchell Scientific Diving Research Internship through their REU program. Hosting interns is no small undertaking, and SPMC’s sustained commitment to this effort is both meaningful and impactful. Thank you to Nate Schwarck and Derek Smith at SPMC for leading this good work.

Internships like these shape careers. They give emerging dive safety professionals and diving scientists the chance to test their interests, build networks, and sharpen their direction. Early in my own career, internship experiences were pivotal, helping me see how I could integrate and leverage my passion for the aquatic environment along with my skill as a SCUBA instructor and scientific diver into a rewarding career in diving safety. It is of great pride that our Academy, in partnership with Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, the AAUS Foundation and our Intern Host Institutions invest in these programs to steward the next generation of diving safety pros and scientists.

Cheers to you all in this lovely month of May.

Current reading / listening
•Podcast: Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz - Seymour
Marine Discovery Center
•Current Reading: Wilderness Essays by John Muir

Best,
Andrew Morgan
AAUS President