Virginia Institute of Marine Science professor Dr. Mark Patterson won the Marine Technology Society’s Lockheed Award for Ocean Science and Engineering.

Patterson is a marine biologist specializing in underwater robotics. His research on how flow affects the metabolism of corals has been published in many marine science textbooks. He is the co-founder of Sias Patterson Incorporated, the first company that designs and manufactures small autonomous underwater vehicles.
The Marine Technology Society was established in 1963 and is composed of technicians, educators and policymakers from around the globe. Patterson has been a member since 1998.