The University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory (APL-UW) was founded by the U.S. Navy in 1943 to conduct acoustic and oceanographic studies on how deep ocean variability affects Navy systems. Today, our scientists and engineers are leading research and applied technologies in acoustic and remote sensing, ocean physics and engineering, medical and industrial ultrasound, polar science and logistics, environmental and information systems, and electronic and photonic systems.
While APL-UW research happens across the globe, our home base is on the University of Washington campus. When they aren’t out at sea, our research vessels are piered on Lake Union.