Join us for the next installment of our Free Lecture Series. This month we will be joined by Dustin Gregg of Virginia Institute of Marine Science discussing Acoustic Exploration of Chesapeake Bay and Beyond: Using Underwater Sound to Visualize the Past and Educate for the Future
Join Acoustician Dustin Gregg for a presentation about a monumental equipment upgrade aboard the R/V Virginia that has allowed scientists from Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to explore the historical waters of Chesapeake Bay and has provided a new platform for interdisciplinary marine research in the Mid-Atlantic. While exploiting the properties of sound waves in the marine environment is not a new concept, Gregg explains how these acoustic instruments stand in a class of their own regarding accuracy and application, and how they have enabled VIMS to serve the scientific community in exiting new ways. Come learn how underwater sound is used to inform us on various aquatic environments, the fascinating theory of operation of these instruments, see 3D visualizations of historic Chesapeake Bay shipwrecks captured from the R/V Virginia, and maybe even walk away with a better understanding of your own boat’s “fishfinder”.
Dustin Gregg is an Acoustician at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science where he serves as Senior Marine Electronics Technician and hydrographer for the acoustic instrument suite aboard the research vessel Virginia. After earning his degree in Acoustics & Sound Engineering, Gregg arrived VIMS as a Fisheries Scientist in 2011 where his focal interest was acoustic derivation of fish biomass in support of stock assessment activities. In 2023, the advent of new instrumentation on the R/V Virginia provided Dustin the opportunity to exploit his niche and join Marine Operations department at VIMS where he primarily executes interdisciplinary scientific acoustics. In addition to his acoustical expertise, Gregg also holds Marine Electrical certifications from the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) and regularly consults on marine electrical system design, troubleshooting, and code compliance, as well as integration and deployment of scientific instrumentation at the Institute. Away from his career, Dustin is a musician, endurance trailrunner, and an avid (European) football fan.