All Climate Events

Thursday, August 11, 2022. 10:00 AM. Webinar: The Gulf Blue Navigator: Regional Innovation for the New Blue Economy. Hailey Bathurst, SeaAhead Program Manager; Sharon Mesick, Regional Climate Services Director. Sponsored by NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Regional Collaboration Team. More information here. Register here.

Abstract: One of NOAA's strategic priorities is promoting economic development while maintaining environmental stewardship with a focus on advancing the new blue economy. Collaboration and partnership with private sector organizations are central to NOAA's mission to support blue economic development and growth. In the Gulf of Mexico region, NOAA is collaborating with the Gulf Blue Navigator - led by SeaAhead and the University of Southern Mississippi, to shorten the development timeline for blue technology startups by providing access to state-of-the art research facilities, wet labs, co-working space, mentoring, and networking opportunities with Federal, State, and local agencies. The program exists at the nexus of industry, academia, government, and private sectors to drive the rapid development of applicable technology that simultaneously advances economic development, innovation, and environmental stewardship. The first cohort of four-to-six businesses will start the program in November, running through May of 2023. This presentation will familiarize the audience with the Navigator Program, and identify the alignment with NOAA's mission and strategic vision.

Bio(s): Hailey Bathurst has been working with startups since 2016 when she built the first health and wellness accelerator program in Rhode Island through Social Enterprise Greenhouse. She went on to serve in the Peace Corps in Namibia under the community economic development project, working with businesses of all stages through the Municipality. After returning to the US, Hailey earned her MPP from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. She now lives in Coastal MS, serving as the program manager for SeaAhead and USM's joint project, the Gulf Blue Navigator.