Stanford Graduate School of Business

Ep. 42, Seafloor Science in Central California: Research Frontiers and Collaborative Opportunities

Listen as professor William P. Barnett and Stanford students Gulbin Atli and Milian Chen host a discussion with George E. Hilly, Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, and Stephan A. Graham, Welton Joseph and Maud L'Anphere Crook Professor of Applied Earth Sciences & by courtesy, of Geophysics & of Energy Science Engineering at Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, to discuss the takeaways from an academic conference held at Stanford GSB on February 9–10, 2026. This two-day symposium brings together geologists, geophysicists, marine scientists, technology developers, and research institutions from the Monterey Bay and adjacent central California coast regions to showcase cutting-edge research in seafloor processes and explore new pathways for collaboration. The symposium explores the interconnected processes that drive sediment transport from coastline to deep ocean and exert controls on the character of seafloor, bringing together researchers from the Monterey Bay and central California coast. The symposium integrates cutting-edge sensing technologies, process-based research, and practical applications to foster future collaboration among regional institutions. The workshop addresses how emerging technologies and computational approaches are revolutionizing our ability to observe and model coupled coastal-to-deep ocean transport systems. Presentations will highlight advances in mobile and stationary sensing platforms, numerical modeling of transport mechanisms, and applications ranging from offshore infrastructure to blue carbon accounting. The Monterey Bay, an active tectonic region with unique canyon systems and diverse continental margin environments, provides an ideal natural laboratory for many of these investigations while the symposium welcomes comparative studies from other regions. Key Objectives: • Integrate advances in sensing technologies with process understanding across source-to-sink transport systems • Foster collaborative relationships among regional research institutions • Explore applications of fundamental research to sustainability and infrastructure challenges • Identify opportunities for shared resources and joint research initiatives • Strengthen regional capacity for integrated coastal-to-deep ocean research The Stanford Initiative on Business and Environmental Sustainability Research Conference Series is hosted by Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. Season 2, episode 42, recorded February 9, 2026 #GSBsustainability #GSBpodcast #Doerrpodcast #podcast