The Schmidt Ocean Institute Cracks the Champagne on One of the World's Largest Research Vessels
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The Schmidt ocean institute’s falkor (too) research vessel Photo: Schmidt ocean institute
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy Schmidt have spent much of the last two decades ramping up their philanthropy, not just in terms of dollar amounts — by 2019, they'd given about $1 billion and committed to give yet another billion — but also by developing hands-on, science- and venture-informed approaches to some of the world's most pressing issues, like climate change, energy systems and human rights. One main component of the couple's environmental philanthropy is the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI), which they founded in 2009 to advance ocean science.
It might go without saying, but a good way to study the ocean is by getting scientists onto the water. Since its early days, the Schmidt Ocean Institute has sailed specially outfitted research vessels, making the ships and research equipment available to scientists — free of charge. Their first ship was the R/V Lone Ranger, which was donated to the organization in 2009. Then came the R/V Falkor in 2013, a 272-foot craft that was the first year-round ocean science vessel. Like the Lone Ranger, the Falkor was made available for use by scientists at no cost.
SOI stopped operating the original Falkor after more than a decade of exploration, during which it hosted more than 1,100 researchers, and donated the vessel to the Italian National Research Council. But that wasn’t the end of the Schmidts’ research vessel program — it was the start of new chapter. In March of this year, the institute cracked the champagne on Falkor's successor, the R/V Falkor (too). The new ship is 30 years younger and 100 feet longer than the first Falkor, with six times the deck space, three times the interior capacity, more equipment and technology, and the ability to sail farther and longer. It is perhaps the largest and most advanced pure research vessel in operation. SOI wasn’t specific about the cost of the new ship and the extensive refit that transformed it into a research vessel (it was built in 2011 and was previously used in the offshore wind industry, among other industry uses) other than to say that it’s a multimillion-dollar venture. That’s probably an understatement, since the cost of the previous ship, the Falkor, was reported to be $94 million.
"The Falkor (too) is going to expand upon what we did (with the Falkor) but on a much grander scale," said Carlie Wiener, director of communications and engagement strategy for SOI. "It expands our capacity so we can go to broader latitudes, and we'll have more berths so we can bring on more scientists. We can do more transdisciplinary work and have multiple projects happening at the same time.”
A floating research institution, the seven-deck Falkor (too) gives scientists the ability to conduct a vast range of work at sea. It contains a several onboard laboratories, a 150-ton crane, two moon pools (vertical shafts open to the air and water that allow equipment to be lowered into the water more safely and easily, such as through ice), and equipment for high-resolution mapping of the ocean depths, among other technology. The ship also carries Remote Operated Vehicle SuBastian, a submersible craft that can explore as deeply as 4,500 meters.
Offering scientists free use of the ship and its equipment is one of SOI’s primary forms of philanthropy. All that’s required is that research partners and participants openly share and communicate the outcomes of their research, including raw observations and data. In addition to the considerable expenditures of operating Falkor (too), the SOI makes grants in ocean science, diversity and inclusion, and outreach.
SOI has developed a strategic framework with seven general topics of focus for research on the Falkor (too), including mapping the seafloor, ocean biodiversity and deep-sea biodiversity, microbiology, technology and robotics, and pollutants, among other subjects. In fact, the SOI has planned out a decade's worth of missions and topics of study. Scientists whose research projects are accepted have full access to all of the ship’s tools and technology. SOI will also provides opportunities for artists at sea, students and community leaders to join its expeditions — the better to galvanize public understanding and interest in the sea.
The ship’s first expedition explored the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an extensive underwater mountain chain. Scientists on board studied hydrothermal vents from underwater volcanoes, as well as older hydrothermal towers. These are extreme environments thought to be similar in chemical makeup to that when life began, and ocean researchers think the microbes living on these vents could provide insight into the conditions that led to the origin of life on Earth. Other upcoming expeditions will focus on deep-sea coral and a unique seamount area off Costa Rica called the Dorado Outcrop, where an unusual community of octopuses lives amid low-temperature sea vents.
Why do the Schmidts think ocean science demands this kind of investment — particularly now? Much of it goes back to the importance of basic science: Though oceans cover 70% of the planet, they are largely unexplored and often said to be more mysterious than outer space.
“The ocean has always needed a moonshot,” said Eric Schmidt, announcing the new vessel's launch. “Falkor (too) embodies that ambition, bringing together breakthrough technology and the global marine science community to explore the furthest reaches of our world. This is a very big moment for us, for the oceans and for the future of science.”
But ocean science also speaks to timelier and more fraught issues. The chemistry, physics, biology and geology of the oceans comprise an integral part of the function and health of the planet and every living thing, aquatic and terrestrial. Better understanding of the oceans is vital, especially in this era of climate change, melting ice, rising seas and accelerating species loss. And all of this figures into the lives of people everywhere, whether they live near the sea or not.
"There is no human health without ocean health," Wiener said. "That's something Wendy Schmidt articulates in a lot of the work that she does — that we have to understand and take care of our oceans in order for us to survive and thrive. And that translates not just to the oceans, but to land, as well."
SOI and its work stand out in part because philanthropy as a sector hasn’t prioritized causes like ocean science and marine conservation, with only a few major funders focusing on the oceans. A 2021 report analyzing a decade’s worth of global funding for marine conservation estimated that in 2019, only about 7% of U.S. philanthropic funding for the environment and animals went to ocean-related causes — about $1 billion. At the same time, the report also found that on the global level, philanthropy for marine conservation rivaled government funding totals, indicating the especially important role philanthropy plays in ocean research.
Since he left his position as Google’s CEO, and later its chairman, in 2017, Eric Schmidt’s net worth has risen to an estimated $20.3 billion, and the couple's influence and philanthropy have only intensified. Wendy Schmidt (who has been a guest contributing writer for IP) has led the charge in areas like agriculture, international development and human rights. Their Schmidt Family Foundation has been focusing significant funding on studying alternative energy and the reduction of fossil fuel use, transforming agriculture and food systems, protecting access to and enjoyment of natural resources, and promoting socially and environmentally sustainable development. Additional funds and efforts flow through the couple’s venture project, Schmidt Futures.
Climate — which, to a large degree, is a function of the ocean — has long been a central area of focus for the Schmidts. As my colleague Mike Scutari discussed last year, the Schmidts have become two of philanthropy's most active givers for science-focused environmental causes and other areas of research and technology. The work of SOI, particularly the mission of the Falkor (too), involves a strong mix of those interests — climate, science and technology.
