University of Aruba students win grant to launch first coastal current monitoring system

EAGLE BEACH – University of Aruba students Kieran Kelly and Stephen Richards have received a AWG 20,000 Bright Future Research Grant, funded by Iberostar Aruba, to launch the island's first coastal current monitoring system.

Their project, "Coastal Current Monitoring in Aruba," will deploy a smart buoy that measures coastal currents around Aruba and shares real-time data through an open-access platform, filling a major gap in local oceanographic information.

Existing regional models are not detailed enough for a small island like Aruba. The new system will provide more accurate data for researchers, environmental organizations, policymakers, and the public.

The first buoy is expected to be deployed within six months, with the long-term goal of creating a monitoring network around Aruba. The information collected will help track sargassum, identify dangerous rip currents, and support marine conservation and environmental management.

The winning proposal was selected by experts from the University of Aruba, Metabolic Foundation, Iberostar Aruba, Iberostar Foundation, and Wave of Change. According to the evaluation panel, the project represents an important step forward for scientific research and the long-term protection of Aruba's marine ecosystem.