Bright goldfish swimming in pink coral reef.

Mission and Vision

The OceanObs’19 conference is a community-driven conference that brings people from all over the planet together to communicate the decadal progress of ocean observing networks and to chart innovative solutions to society’s growing needs for ocean information in the coming decade.

In recognition of the central role the ocean plays in supporting all life on Earth, we see a resilient world whose societies prosper through sustainable interactions with our ocean, guided by timely, reliable, and accessible information.

Conference Objectives

Overall, OceanObs’19 will strive to improve the governance of a global ocean observing system, including advocacy, funding, and alignment with best practices and to designate responsibility for product definition, including production and timely delivery at the appropriate scales (global, basin, regional, national) to serve user needs. The conference program will be built focusing on a single objective each day to provide adequate time to answer to the proposed questions.

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Information

How do we meet future user needs?

This outcome will focus on opportunities to define user needs, increase access to ocean observing systems, and enhance product delivery and feedback loops. Conduct a gap analysis and system review to determine whether adequate channels exist to characterize both user- and ocean-observing science and technology requirements. Define what information and data are needed to better serve user communities. Guide the evolution of our observation system to create ocean-related user products that fill gaps in societal and scientific knowledge needs.

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Interoperability

How can we better communicate among observing systems to deliver products for users that follow usability and other best practices across the globe?

This outcome will determine how to connect regional, national, and global networks to efficiently serve user needs. Establish a globally coordinated effort to simulate and link observing systems elements, based on costs and benefits of system enhancements. Identify best practices needed to enable effective access to data across systems, including the ability to synthesize diverse data and information, and increased consistency in information delivery.

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Innovation

How can we spur innovation in observing technologies, products, and user services?

This outcome will identify new developments, technologies, and practices that satisfy users’ operational information needs, enable visionary new science, and meet interoperability goals. Articulate the value of ocean observations, including assessing the potential of new capabilities and intelligent design of system elements. Energize and challenge a wider community to respond to and overcome current obstacles limiting our ocean observing capabilities.

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Integration

How can we balance user and operator needs, capabilities, and knowledge worldwide?

This outcome will help share ocean observing information among existing and potential users, including underrepresented communities and regions with the most critical need. Enhance access and benefits between regions and nations by engaging new actors and facilitating a more balanced transfer of information and technology. Build capabilities that enable adequate regional and global coverage through networks and exchange of diverse information.