Researcher Chat: Alison Bates on Using VR in Ocean Research

Have you ever experienced a floating wind farm up close? This research team made that possible through virtual reality to find out what people in the Gulf of Maine think about this type of offshore renewable technology.Additional Resources:“Trust, fairness, and transparency: Perceptions of energy justice in Maine's offshore wind planning process” (2025)Sea Grant plays a unique role in bridging science and community engagement. To do so, we are a neutral entity. We value our non-partisan approach to our work, because it allows us to work with all communities, facilitate sometimes tough conversations, and bring people together to find solutions to difficult challenges. However, we’ll be vulnerable with you, and say that navigating some complex topics while remaining neutral can be hard. So please have some grace with us, and grace with each other as we listen and learn together. As we go, we might come up with more questions to pursue, and you might have some as well. Please reach out, we’d love to hear from you!  -  Feedback Form