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1. From the President: Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020

I am happy to report that OSM20 was another raving success: More than 6300 ocean experts came to San Diego, representing 66 countries. Thirty-two percent of the attendees self-identified as students and actively contributed to more than 3200 posters, 1820 oral presentations, and 177 elightning talks. The science sessions were enriched by 122 exhibits supported by more than 350 registered exhibitors. The conference facilities, which looked out over San Diego Harbor, allowed for interactions and a lot of networking.

The opening talk by Nainoa Thompson was very moving. He is the first Native Hawaiian practicing the art of Polynesian-style long-distance, open-ocean voyaging on a traditional double-hulled canoe. He reminded us of the deep and valuable knowledge about the ocean available in non-academic communities and challenged us to be both explorers and caretakers of Earth and its ocean.

During the TOS awards breakfast, it was a great honor for me to present TOS medals to Jane Lubchenco (Sears Medal), Larry Mayer (Munk Medal), and Tim Takahashi (representing his recently deceased father Taro for the Broecker Medal) with almost 300 members and guests in attendance.

On Wednesday, Dr. Lubchenco spoke at the OSM 2020 Award Plenary session (39-minute mark) about Ocean Narratives and the role that ocean science can play to provide critical information to decision-makers. Some say, “the ocean is so immense, it is too big to fail.” Others might argue, “the ocean is impossibly broken, it is too big to fix.” Her preferred narrative was: “the ocean is so central to our health, prosperity, and well-being, It is too big to ignore.” Moreover, Dr. Lubchenco urged the ocean science and expert community to “embrace a new social contract … one in which scientist and their institutions are fully engaged in co-creating scalable solutions that heal people and the planet.”

Margaret Leinen, director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a former TOS president, closed the meeting by presenting the opportunities that the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development will bring to our community during this decade.

TOS also organized a town hall about the future of our Society and a full-day retreat on Saturday. We reflected on what was discussed at the Ocean Sciences Meeting, looked at the members’ survey, and came up with many new ideas that will enhance the footprint and scope of TOS in the years to come. Let us seize the moment, fully embrace the energy of the early career and student members and become an even more inclusive society that promotes scientific excellence, integrated ocean science, and connects the academic and professional ocean communities. We will continue the dialogue with all of you over the coming months a present a new TOS and the strategy to get there by the end of this year.

TOS Strategy 2030 Retreat Participants

2. OSM 2020 Plenary Presentation Links

All plenary presentations from OSM 2020 have been posted on the conference website, and are available at the links below. 

Opening plenary – Nainoa Thompson
Tuesday plenary – Heidi Sosik, Erik van Sebille
Wednesday plenary – ASLO, TOS and AGU Award Lectures
Closing plenary – Margaret Leinen

3. Annual Roger Revelle Commemorative Lecture on March 10

The Roger Revelle Commemorative Lecture Series was created by the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies in honor of Roger Revelle to highlight the important links between ocean sciences and public policy. TOS is proud to support this activity by publishing articles by each speaker in the June issue of Oceanography following the lecture.

Ocean Plastic: A Scientist’s Tale
Dr. Chelsea Rochman, University of Toronto
March 10, 2020, 6:00 – 7:30 PM
National Academy of Sciences
2101 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20418

Learn more and register to attend this free lecture here.

4. Ocean Optics XXV Registration and Abstract Submission is Now Open

The registration and abstract submission system for Ocean Optics XXV, taking place in Norfolk, Virginia from October 25 – 30, 2020 is now open. Visit this link for more information. Abstracts are due May 1, 2020.