‘Father of Side Scan Sonar’ Honored with Don Walsh Ocean Exploration Award
The Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) have announced Martin “Marty” Klein as the recipient of the 2024 Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration. This prestigious award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding, sustained, and international contributions to the development, application, or propagation of marine and underwater technology toward the advancement of ocean exploration.
Klein is a pioneer in the field of underwater technology, known as the “father of side scan sonar.” His innovations have revolutionized oceanographic surveys and underwater searches, providing critical tools for the discovery and exploration of our oceans and inspiring generations of ocean engineers.
Klein has been involved in ocean exploration since 1961, when MIT Professor Harold “Doc” Edgerton introduced him to Jacques Cousteau, George Bass, Peter Throckmorton, Ed Link and other pioneers in the field. When Klein introduced his side scan sonar systems in 1967, there were no commercial units on the market. He helped to create an industry that now comprises more than 30 manufacturers of these systems, which have helped open the world of ocean exploration.
Beyond his technical achievements, Klein has been an avid participant in MTS’s MATE ROV Competition, inspiring young ocean explorers. Klein’s influence also extends through his numerous publications and patents. In addition, he is involved with the Explorers Club, the National Academy of Engineering and the IEEE. His legacy is further cemented through the student scholarship he endowed at Memorial University, honoring his son’s memory and supporting future ocean professionals.
The Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration will be presented to Klein at the 2024 OCEANS Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, September 2024.