Derek Sowers

Center for Coastal & Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center
Jere A. Chase Ocean Engineering Lab
24 Colovos Road
Durham, New Hampshire 03824

Dr. Derek Sowers serves as the Mapping Operations Manager for the Ocean Exploration Trust, and is based at the University of New Hampshire’s Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping. Derek previously served as an Expedition Coordinator for NOAA Ocean Exploration for nine years leading ocean exploration mapping and remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) missions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer.

Derek holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of New Hampshire, an M.S. in Marine Resource Management from Oregon State University, and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of New Hampshire. Derek enjoys utilizing ocean mapping data to better characterize marine habitats, and developed standardized geomorphology maps for the entire U.S. Atlantic Margin deeper than 200 m for his doctoral research.

Prior to focusing on deep sea mapping and exploration, Derek conducted coastal research and restoration work for NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve network and EPA’s National Estuary Program in Oregon and New Hampshire. Derek has participated in numerous oceanographic expeditions spanning remote areas of the Arctic, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans.