WILLEMSTAD — Renowned aquanaut, Ocean explorer and environmentalist Fabien Cousteau–grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau–announces today his vision for PROTEUS™, the world’s most advanced underwater scientific research station and habitat to address humanity’s most critical concerns: medicinal discoveries, food sustainability, and the impacts of climate change.
A project of the Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center (FCOLC), PROTEUS™ is conceived as the underwater version of the International Space Station; it will be a platform for global collaboration amongst the world’s leading researchers, academics, government agencies, and corporations to advance science to benefit the future of the planet.
“As our life support system, the Ocean is indispensable to solving the planet’s biggest problems,” Cousteau said. “Challenges created by climate change, rising sea levels, extreme storms and viruses represent a multi-trillion-dollar risk to the global economy. PROTEUS™, contemplated as the first in a network of underwater habitats, is essential to driving meaningful solutions to protect the future of our planet. The knowledge that will be uncovered underwater will forever change the way generations of humans live up above.”
Proposed as the largest and most technologically advanced underwater station ever built, PROTEUS™ will grant scientists and aquanauts the time to conduct continuous night and day diving and data collection. PROTEUS™ will enable the discovery of new species of marine life, create a better understanding of how climate change affects the Ocean, and allow for testing of advanced technologies for green power, aquaculture and robotic exploration.
Onsite labs will facilitate processing of organic samples that can be studied in real time, rather than the specimens rapidly degrading or dying during the arduous journey to the surface. On-premise experimentation results in an enhanced pipeline to support the development of new treatments for cancer, antibiotics, and vaccines, and much more.
“Living underwater gives the gift of time and the incredible perspective of being a resident on the reef. You’re not just a visitor anymore,” said Sylvia Earle, legendary marine biologist, explorer and Ocean Ambassador of the FCOLC.
PROTEUS™ will be located off of Curaçao, at a depth of 60 feet (3 atmospheres), in richly biodiverse marine-protected water. Dr. I.S (Steven) Martina, Minister of Economic Development for Curacao, stated: “We are delighted to be home to PROTEUS™. Our incredible Caribbean Sea holds immense riches yet to be fully discovered. The economic potential of having the first underwater space station located in Curacao’s waters is enormous, from job creation to tourism.”
PROTEUS™ will also feature a full-scale video production facility to provide continuous live streaming for educational programming.
PROTEUS™’s strategic partners include Northeastern University, Rutgers University, CARMABI, and University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography. The initial concept design of PROTEUS™ has been co-conceived by renowned industrial designer, Yves Béhar and his firm fuseproject.
Concept renderings can be found HERE