OOIFB Community Forum on Ocean Observing
Format: Hybrid
Date and time
Friday 4 December 2026 to Saturday 5 December 2026, opening reception Friday evening; full-day sessions Saturday.
About this event
Ahead of the 2026 AGU conference in San Francisco, OOIFB is hosting a Community Forum on the future of ocean observing, framed by the recent NSF Dear Colleague Letter requesting community input on ocean observing priorities. The forum brings together researchers, modellers, data scientists, resource managers, policymakers, educators, students, and other stakeholders. Building on perspectives from federally funded observing efforts (NSF, NOAA, NASA, USGS, and ONR) and on community responses to the DCL, participants will work to set out not only what individual observing systems provide, but why a coordinated, sustained, and responsive ocean observing system matters for science and society.
The aim is a concise, community-informed framework, "Ocean Observations: A Summary for Stakeholders," synthesising consensus on the value of ocean observing, critical scientific and observational gaps, coordination priorities, and emerging opportunities. Participation requires an application, including for virtual attendees, and in-person space is limited. There is no registration fee, and limited travel support is available for eligible individuals via post-event reimbursement.
What to expect
- Friday evening opening reception with a keynote by Dr. Lynne Talley (Scripps Institution of Oceanography)
- Saturday framing panel with perspectives from across the ocean observing system
- Full day of collaborative breakout sessions drafting the stakeholder summary
- Free to attend
- Application required
- Limited travel support
Location
Marriott Marquis, San Francisco, CA, USA, and online (virtual participation Saturday 5 December only).
Organiser
Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board (OOIFB).
Cost
Free (no registration fee); limited travel support available.
Registration