# Planning: Arctic Futures: Undersea Mining, Artificial Intelligence, and Security on a New Maritime Frontier

> **NSF 0100CYXXDB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Colorado School of Mines (CO) · $200,000

## Abstract

As the polar seas melt, a new maritime frontier is emerging from the ice. The imminent opening of the northern oceans to navigation, science, and industry is an event of historical significance. Governments, corporations and communities are already planning for these changes. Of particular interest are undersea deposits of critical minerals essential to the supply chains of semiconductors and other technologies used in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and energy transitions. While it is certain that a new rush to the North is well underway, we know little about: 1) the wider dimensions of seafloor critical mineral mining in the Arctic; 2) how its hazards, risks, and benefits are being understood and distributed; and 3) how planning for this maritime industry is related to the national security concerns, infrastructure development, and economic changes that are shaping Arctic futures. More social scientific research is needed into these topics of broad importance for the United States. 

This planning project supports the activities needed to organize a future study about the initiation of undersea critical mineral mining in the new Arctic maritime frontier. It answers the questions: Why is the rise of this maritime industry significant and deserving of social scientific research? And what will it take to launch the first longitudinal and interdisciplinary study about the ways that undersea critical mineral mining and its impacts are coming into focus along the Western

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2531151
- **Awardee organization:** Colorado School of Mines (CO)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JW2NGMP4NMA3
- **PI:** Lucas Bessire
- **Primary program:** 0100CYXXDB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** ARCTIC RESEARCH, ARCTIC SOCIAL SCIENCES
- **Estimated total:** $200,000
- **Funds obligated:** $200,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2027

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2531151

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2531151, Planning: Arctic Futures: Undersea Mining, Artificial Intelligence, and Security on a New Maritime Frontier. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2531151. Licensed CC0.

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