The Hawaiʻi Convention Center is hosting OceanObs ’19, September 16–20 in Honolulu, marking the first time that the premier global ocean sciences conference will be held in the U.S.
More than 1,200 attendees are expected from 63 countries, doubling the conference’s previous turnout. OceanObs, which stands for ocean observation, is held every 10 years. It was held in Venice, Italy, in September 2009, and Saint Raphael, France, in October 1999. Attendees range from oceanographers to data scientists, engineers and policymakers.
With the goal of connecting science and society, OceanObs ’19 is a collaborative effort of the ocean-observing community. The conference seeks to improve response to scientific and societal needs of a sustained, multidisciplinary and integrated ocean observing system, for better understanding the environment, monitoring climate and informing adaptation strategies, as well as the sustainable use of ocean resources.
“We are working to best connect user communities and observers, with input, in the form of community white papers, helping shape strategy development throughout the conference and for the upcoming decade,” said Christopher Sabine, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa oceanography professor and OceanObs ’19 program committee member. “People across the globe benefit from timely, reliable ocean observations every day. More accurate weather apps, sustainable seafood plans, and even today’s surf forecast are all thanks to our ever-advancing ocean observing capabilities.”
The UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) is a financial sponsor of the event and multiple SOEST faculty served on the program and organizing committees. The conference includes participation and exhibits by major sponsors such as NASA, NOAA and NSF, as well as involvement from leading researchers at SOEST and its Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System, among other organizations.
See the full story on the SOEST website.
—Portions of this content courtesy of the Hawaiʻi Convention Center
