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From the Director:

Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) is quickly approaching and this year’s event will focus on protecting biodiversity in the ocean and Great Lakes. Gabrielle Canonico, IOOS Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) Program Manager, has been on detail to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation since January helping to develop the program for CHOW. CHOW2020 will showcase extensive cross-sector partnerships being advanced through the MBON and will include a strong presence by MBON partners The meeting will be held virtually on June 9, 2020. It is free and open to everyone.  Register here and see the full agenda. 

The National Ocean Service is highlighting a podcast on MBON as part of the NOAA Ocean Podcast series ahead of CHOW. Check it out to learn more about how MBON is helping to monitor changes in biodiversity. 

Best wishes,
Carl

From the U.S. IOOS Office:

  • The Ocean Enterprise Study 2020: Your business matters, help NOAA assess the Ocean Enterprise Sector! IOOS/NOAA are requesting input from businesses who provide infrastructure or products that support or conduct ocean observation and measurement by participating in the Ocean Enterprise Study 2020.  We will use the results to help inform NOAA and the U.S. Department of Commerce about the changing needs of the Ocean Enterprise sector in a report to be published in 2021. “NOAA strongly supports the IOOS Ocean Enterprise Study 2020. Applying data and services to grow the American Blue Economy is a top priority for our agency, and the information provided by this study will help us further the sustainable economic contributions of our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes,” said retired Navy Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy NOAA Administrator. “We are proud of our IOOS Program and partners that have enabled NOAA’s leadership in Ocean Science and Technology.”  We invite any company, large and small, working in this sector, to contribute to this important study through participation in an online survey. To find out more information or to take the survey click here. The study will deliver an update to the initial study conducted in 2015. Thank you to the Marine Technology Society for featuring the study on their website and in the May issue of Currents. 

  • Now Virtual! IOOS Advisory Committee Meeting Save the Date: The next public meeting of the IOOS Advisory Committee will be held virtually August 4-6, 2020. Stay tuned for more information!

Observation Subsystem and Sensor Technologies:

    • No update.

    • Gliders in the Gulf Webinar Tomorrow May 29th: Please join GCOOS on Friday as Assistant Research Scientist Dr. Kerri Whilden and Research Assistant Brian Buckingham from GERG lead a webinar to share the latest news about Gulf of Mexico hurricane glider efforts and plans for the upcoming hurricane season. See more info in the new webinar section below. 

    • Upcoming Training Announcement: The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will be conducting UxS certificate classes this summer and fall.  This two-tiered training gives the working knowledge from ocean science to engineering (ocean, electrical and mechanical) for operators and pilots to safely and successfully execute UxS missions.  This will be the first offering of Tier 2 program with a heavy focus on buoyancy gliders. These courses/certificates have been developed in collaboration with NOAA, Navy, academia, and industry partners to meet the user’s needs.  This is a great opportunity for operators/pilots at all levels that are planning and conducting UxS missions. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: UNMANNED MARITIME SYSTEMS CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, PHONE: 228.688.3177 • FAX: 228.688.1121. Admissions Information: https://www.usm.edu/ocean-science-engineering/unmanned-maritime-systems-ums-certification.php

      • Unmanned Maritime System (UMS) CERTIFICATE PROGRAM — TIER 1 - Aug 24 – Sep 25, 2020 - Students will learn foundational material in oceanography and ocean engineering related to unmanned undersea and surface vehicles (UUVs and USVs), such as powered gliders. This 10-credit hour program compressed into five weeks of instruction is intended to provide sufficient background to safely operate vehicles in challenging marine environments as well as work with a variety of sensors.

      • Unmanned Maritime System (UMS) OPERATOR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM — TIER 2 - Oct 12 – Nov 13, 2020 - The Tier II follow-on Curricula will be focused on specific types of vehicles, but with topics generalized across vehicle types where appropriate. In this first module focused on gliders, students will learn about glider operations including mission planning, mission execution and management and maintenance and management of assets.  The curriculum draws knowledge from real- world case studies of specific situations, sensors, and platforms. Students will apply these concepts in developing and conducting operations during a short field project.  The UMS Operator Certificate program consists of four courses totaling 12 credit hours compressed into five weeks of instruction including a field project during which students will conduct mission analysis & planning, specific vehicle and sensor matching, specific vehicle preparation, launch, operation, and recovery, followed by quality review of collected data.

    • U.S ATN Data Assembly Center (DAC) Data Portal reaches a Milestone: There is now data in the ATN DAC Data Portal from 1,000+ satellite telemetry tags. Find it at https://portal.atn.ioos.us 

    • Community Loses a Visionary Leader and Colleague - In memoriam, Dr. Ron D'Or: Dr. Ron O’Dor, a visionary scientist, colleague, and great friend to the Dalhousie University Department of Biology and the Faculty of Science, as well as to the international scientific community, passed away on May 11th. Read the touching tribute from the Ocean Tracking Network here: https://oceantrackingnetwork.org/in-memoriam-dr-ronald-odor/    

Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) Subsystem and Tools Built on IOOS data (DMAC listserv – contact Micah Wengren, DMAC System Architect, data.ioos@noaa.gov)

  • ERDDAP Transition Project update: IOOS Compliance Checker 4.3.3 was released by RPS on May 18.  The new Compliance Checker release will allow the RAs to check ERDDAP dataset compliance with the IOOS Metadata Profile 1.2, and thereby allow them to begin the implementation phase of the ERDDAP transition project.  The RAs can use Compliance Checker 4.3.3 to directly evaluate their ERDDAP datasets to determine if they are suitably structured and attributed to begin the GTS ingest testing procedure with NDBC.  IOOS will be coordinating the schedule of these tests with NDBC and the RAs as they make new ERDDAP data feeds available.  Among other goals of the ERDDAP transition project, the aim is to migrate all regional GTS data feeds - whether operated by the RAs themselves or by individual data providers/PIs - from NDBC’s legacy XML/FTP push approach to centralized harvesting of RA ERDDAP services.  Related to this effort, additional guidance was added to the IOOS Metadata Profile describing how this process works.

  • POSTPONED: 2020 DMAC Meeting, Silver Spring, MD: The DMAC meeting originally scheduled for June will be postponed with tentative dates 13 – 15 October 2020 in Silver Spring, MD.  More information to follow.

  • IOOS/ESIP Biological Data Standards Workshop, July 13, 2020, Burlington, VT VIRTUAL:  This Biological Data Standards workshop, sponsored by the US Integrated Ocean Observing System (US IOOS) in partnership with ESIP, OBIS and BCO-DMO, invites participation from data providers and data managers across the marine community. See more in the “Upcoming Events with IOOS Participation” section below.

    • QARTOD Paper: The draft paper, QARTOD - Prospects for Real-Time Quality Control Manuals, How to Create Them, and a Vision for Advanced Implementation has been distributed to the Regional Associations for review. The paper describes the applicability of real-time QC for the IOOS core variables not yet addressed by a QARTOD manual. We seek the opinions of subject matter experts to confirm that the descriptions are accurate. Contact Mark or a RA Director for a copy and let us know what you think. Comments are requested by June 12th.

    • Ocean Best Practice System Update: The OBPS initiative is collecting information on existing capacity development activities related to ocean best practices. We need this information to map out the current activities and identify gaps to set priorities on capacity development. Unfortunately, we haven’t received much input, so we are asking you to please help us gather this information by answering the questionnaire at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q7RC2KR and circulating it among your colleagues and networks. We’ve extended the deadline to June 13th to provide you with extra time and get a broader audience.

    • CLIVAR Ocean Uncertainty Quantification Working Group Update: The newly formed Ocean Uncertainty Quantification Working Group, formed within the U.S. Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) research program, met virtually for the first time in late April. A Slack channel has been established at https://oceanuq.slack.com and a web presence is being created. The group intends to publish a monthly blog addressing an aspect of ocean measurement uncertainty quantification.

 

Modeling and Analysis Subsystem (IOOS PO and IOOS Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT) POC – Derrick Snowden, Derrick.Snowden@noaa.gov):   

  • Coastal Flooding Modeling and Prediction Workshop - July 2020: A Workshop on Modeling, Prediction, and Sensor Networks for Coastal Flooding in the US East Coast will be held as four morning (9AM-12PM) virtual sessions in the second half of July. Please enter your availability here https://doodle.com/poll/k99amu7u7ek8v3ay -- if you have not registered yet, we will use the email from the doodle poll as registration. The goal of the workshop is to bring together several groups that are working on quantitative frameworks for monitoring and predicting coastal flooding along the coasts of the US East Coast and draft a strategy for co-developing observing networks and coastal earth system models that can be linked to urban and natural infrastructure layers to address the solutions needs of coastal stakeholders (e.g. emergency management, prediction, planning). A draft agenda is available here. 

Interagency and International Collaboration/News:

  • Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) (IOOS PO POC Gabrielle Canonico, Gabrielle.Canonico@noaa.gov):

    • New Camera Observations of Biodiversity in Shallow and Deep Ocean Habitats: On May 18, MBON co-hosted a webinar with the GOOS Bio-Eco Panel, Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS), and OceanObs Research Coordination Network on 1) camera observations of biodiversity for life in the deep-ocean (presentation by Jonatha Giddens, Ocean Ecologist and Chief Scientist, National Geographic Society Exploration Technology Lab Deep-Sea Research Project) and 2) shallow water fish communities and benthic habitats (presentation by Dominique Pelletier, Marine Conservation and Fisheries Scientist, French Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea) and. The webinar was recorded and is available at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/4437709601046996226 or on the GEO BON web page (https://geobon.org/about/events/web-conferences/)

    • Sound in the Sea: As the blue economy grows, it's increasingly important to understand whether acoustic changes to the marine landscape are impacting ocean animals and ecosystems. That is one of many reasons why projects like the Shell Stones MetOcean Observatory and the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) that GCOOS is partnering with are so important — both deploy hydrophones as part of their protocols to measure ocean noise levels. The efforts align nicely and can eventually support NOAA's Ocean Noise Strategy, a 10-year plan to improve management of both species and the places they inhabit in the context of a changing acoustic environment. Access acoustic data from the Shell Stones MetOcean Observatory (Select ‘browse’ under the Resources heading then choose the acoustic tab.) As acoustic capabilities in MBON expand, data will support the SanctSound: NOAA Navy Sanctuary Soundscape Monitoring Project to monitor sound within the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary System, including Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Standardized baseline information will enable contextualizing both how much sound is introduced within sanctuaries by specific sources and potential impacts to marine taxa and habitats. (via GCOOS)

    • Grant Opportunity: Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) on the Cloud: Microsoft's AI for Earth program has partnered with GEO BON to offer a grant program to support projects that strengthen efforts to monitor Earth’s biodiversity and create Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) and relevant biodiversity change indicators derived from the EBVs.  Deadline for applications is 6/5/2020.  Read more and apply here. 

  • Deadline Extended! Notice of solicitation for members of the NOAA Science Advisory Board: NOAA is soliciting nominations for members of the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB). At this time, individuals are sought with expertise in tsunami science; extreme weather prediction (including tornadoes); social sciences (including geography, sociology, behavioral science); Great Lakes research; cloud computing, artificial intelligence and data management; unmanned, autonomous system technology; `omics science and eDNA; weather modeling and data assimilation; and ocean ecosystem science. Individuals with expertise in other NOAA mission areas are also welcome to apply. Nominations: Interested persons may nominate themselves or third parties. Applications: An application is required to be considered for Board membership, regardless of whether a person is nominated by a third party or self-nominated.  The application package must include: (1) the nominee’s full name, title, institutional affiliation, and contact information; (2) the nominee’s area(s) of expertise; (3) a short description of his/her qualifications relative to the kinds of advice being solicited by NOAA in this Notice; and (4) a current resume (maximum length four [4] pages). For more information on the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB), please refer to the SAB Website and for details on how to submit applications, please refer to the Federal Register Notice. Applications should be submitted electronically to noaa.sab.newmembers@noaa.gov by June 22, 2020.  

  • Busy Atlantic hurricane season predicted for 2020: An above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The outlook predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Read more here: https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/busy-atlantic-hurricane-season-predicted-for-2020

  • NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) Hosts Virtual Hurricane Preparedness Summit: The National Ocean Service (NOS) held a virtual Hurricane Preparedness Summit in advance of the 2020 hurricane season, focusing on hurricane readiness in the midst of a pandemic. The Summit was kicked off by the Acting NOAA Administrator, Dr. Neil Jacobs; Acting NOS Assistant Administrator, Nicole LeBoeuf; OR&R Director, Scott Lundgren; and Disaster Response Center Director, Charlie Henry. Together, they highlighted challenges and opportunities that NOS may face when responding to a hurricane during a pandemic. The conference also included presentations from the National Weather Service, the U.S. Public Health Service, and representatives from each of the NOS program offices.

  • June is National Ocean Month: Each year, we celebrate our ocean throughout the month of June. Dive into our amazing ocean for this month-long celebration by joining NOAA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to learn more about our world ocean. Look for #30DaysofOcean. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ocean/30days/. And don’t forget, June 8th is World Ocean Day! 

  • Office of Coast Survey (OCS) Releases Improved NOAA Custom Chart Tool: OCS released an improved user interface for the NOAA Custom Chart (NCC) prototype web application, a tool that allows users to create their own charts from the latest NOAA electronic navigational chart data. In this refreshed version, NCC settings are simplified and organized more logically; appropriate default values are set for depth contour labels, depth shades, and compass roses; and the NOAA color palette is implemented from traditional NOAA paper charts. Over the coming months, OCS will further improve the prototype by incorporating traditional NOAA paper chart symbology for buoys, beacons, and lights; adding survey quality diagrams; improving chart note management and presentation; and improving compass rose placement.

  • National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Introduces New Maps and Dashboards for Crowdsourced GPS Users: NGS has released new maps and dashboards for exploring the crowdsourced data in the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), the nation’s coordinate system. Through the NGS Online Positioning User Service (OPUS), people can upload survey-grade GPS data and receive NSRS positions by email. The OPUS Share Monthly Map allows users to locate OPUS Shared Solutions on an interactive map. The OPUS Shared Solutions Dashboard lets users examine more than 30,000 shared OPUS solutions contributed by people nationwide since 2007. Introduced in 2014, the GPS on Bench Marks Campaign encourages people to improve the NSRS by uploading survey-grade GPS positioning data on passive geodetic marks. The GPS on Bench Marks for the Transformation Tool Dashboard tracks this campaign. The Dashboard lets people see the collected marks by area and filter the data by year, month, and state. GEOID18 is the latest hybrid geoid model created by NGS. The GEOID18 Web Map allows users to explore the crowdsourced GPS on Bench Mark observations used to create GEOID18. For more information, contact brian.shaw@noaa.gov.

  • NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), NWS Repair Key West Water Temperature Sensor: A National Weather Service (NWS) crew from the Key West Weather Forecast Office (WFO) completed repairs to the water temperature sensor at the Key West, Florida, National Water Level Observation Network station. The data coming from the sensor had become suspect in the preceding weeks. These data are important to Key West WFO operations. Because of the ongoing pandemic, the CO-OPS field team was unable to travel to conduct the repair. CO-OPS provided a detailed repair guide, and NWS offered their technical services. CO-OPS is grateful to its NWS counterparts for making this repair possible during this challenging time.

  • The Nation’s Tide and Tidal Current Tables Are Going Digital: NOAA and its predecessor agencies have been producing printed Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables annually since 1867. For over 150 years, commercial and recreational mariners have relied on this information to ensure safe navigation of U.S. seaports and coastlines and to determine speeds of tidal currents. As the world moves further into the digital era, virtual resources continue to become more common. A 2018 update to the U.S. Coast Guard regulations (33 CFR 164.33 Charts and Publications) sanctioned the use of digital predictions from the CO-OPS website to meet mariner carriage requirements. This shift followed a similar update allowing Electronic Navigational Charts and electronic copies of Coast Pilot to be used in lieu of paper charts and publications. Prompted by these changes, NOAA began to investigate the possibility of eliminating printed Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables. And so it came to pass that the last hard-copy editions were published in October 2019, which include the 2020 predictions. Read more here: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/news_posts/article.html?post=970

  • Resources for Recreational Boaters - NOAA Offers Free Nautical Products for Fun and Safety: NOAA's Office of Coast Survey, the nation's nautical chartmaker, provides a suite of products to help make maritime transportation safe for all users. The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) is the authoritative source for accurate, reliable, and timely water-level and current measurements. Explore these free NOAA products available to help make your next trip an enjoyable one. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/navigation/recboating/

  • Group on Earth Observations Symposium is Going Virtual - Save the Date! - 15-19 June 2020: You are invited to participate in the first-ever GEO Virtual Symposium 2020 - which will take place entirely online. The global GEO community will benefit from a series of interactive webinars over the course of one week that will provide in-depth discussions from experts on a range of relevant issues to the GEO Work Programme Flagships, Initiatives and Activities. At this first year of the 2020-2022 GEO Work Programme, the Symposium will focus on strengthening the capability of GEO Work Programme activities to implement their plans effectively. A special session on Earth observations for Pandemic Response and Recovery will start off the week to mark the contributions of the GEO community to this significant challenge. All sessions will encourage interactive participation from attendees. Be the first to receive updates, register your interest for the GEO Virtual Symposium 2020: http://earthobservations.org/reg_2020_wps.php

  • Grants & Funding Opportunities:

    • Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) on the Cloud: Microsoft's AI for Earth program has partnered with GEO BON to offer a grant program to support projects that strengthen efforts to monitor Earth’s biodiversity and create Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) and relevant biodiversity change indicators derived from the EBVs.  Deadline for applications is 6/5/2020.  Read more and apply here. 

    • DARPA BAA: This BAA invites proposers to submit innovative basic or applied research concepts in the following technical domains: Frontiers in Math, Computation & Design; Limits of Sensing & Sensors; Complex Social Systems; Anticipating Surprise. The research topics of interest within each domain are described in the BAA. Closes June 12, 2020.

    • SECOORA 2020 Education and Outreach Request for Proposals: There is increased demand for high-quality online science education resources today and so SECOORA is soliciting proposals to develop online or online accessible K-12 marine science curricula and/or activities that can be implemented by parents, teachers, and other educators. The goal is to promote the development and implementation of innovative approaches that engage students in using coastal and marine information to improve understanding of our coastal environment. All materials developed through this request for proposals will be made available on the SECOORA Education website.  Deadline 5pm 6/18/2020. Read more and how to apply here. 

Delivering the Benefits:

  • MARACOOS Measures Ocean Temperature Profiles as TS Arthur tracks along the Gulf Stream:  As Tropical Storm Arthur tracked along the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean, MARACOOS was operating gliders in the area and taking temperature profiles. This blog post from Rutgers University Professor Dr. Scott Glenn compares glider temperature profiles to the global models in Arthur. Plots from all the gliders can be viewed at https://rucool.marine.rutgers.edu/hurricane/Hurricane_season_2020/ 

  • NSF OOI Glider Data on NANOOS NVS App:  National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Endurance Array glider data collected along the Newport Hydrographic Line (44.65°N, 124.5-128°W) are now available for 2019 through early 2020 via a new NVS glider app.  The app includes figures showing temperature, salinity, and bio-chemical data for individual east-west transects as well as links to the IOOS Glider DAC where users can download these data. In the coming weeks, this app will be extended to include all data (April 2014 – April 2020) collected along this glider line. This collaboration between OOI and NANOOS builds upon previous work to include near real-time OOI mooring observations in the NVS Data Explorer. 

  • New Comprehensive Ecosystem Model for Hawaii: The Hawaiian Island Chain is an oasis in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, providing an area of increased nutrients, coral reefs, and other benefits to ocean life. The PacIOOS ocean modeling team, led by co-investigator Professor Brian Powell, has recently developed a comprehensive ecosystem model that captures the physical and chemical dynamics of the ocean, as well as the base of the food web to better understand the ocean waters around Hawaiʻi and the life contained within.  Read more about this new model here. 

  • Great Lakes Buoys Being Deployed: While buoys can't be deployed as quickly as usual this year, lots of them are still getting out there!  Be the first to see your favorites come online at the GLOS data portal. 

  • PAPER "Mechanisms of mid-to-outer shelf transport of shoreline released tracers": Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System Principal Investigators, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and University of Washington researchers recently published "Mechanisms of mid-to-outer shelf transport of shoreline released tracers" in American Meteorological Society Journal of Physical Oceanography. Shoreline-released tracer is simulated from the surfzone to the outer-shelf in the San Diego Bight using a high-resolution wave-current coupled model with realistic forcing. The specific goal is to elucidate the principal mechanism(s) responsible for offshore tracer transport in the mid to outer shelf region using relatively simple metrics. 

Congressional:

  • ICOOS Act Update: No update.

Communications/Outreach/Education:

  • RFP SECOORA 2020 Education and Outreach Request for Proposals: SECOORA is soliciting proposals to develop online or online accessible K-12 marine science curricula and/or activities that can be implemented by parents, teachers, and other educators. Read more about this opportunity in the Funding Opportunities section (above). 

  • New Webinar Section: Webinars have become so popular these days that we’re devoting a whole section to them for a little while. One time events, series, and more are listed there.  Check it out, below the meetings!

Upcoming Meetings with IOOS Participation (Please check links as we move forward as things may change quickly for planned events):

  • SAVE THE DATE: IOOS/ESIP Biological Data Standards Workshop, 13 July 2020, VIRTUAL:  This Biological Data Standards workshop, sponsored by the US Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS) in partnership with ESIP, OBIS and BCO-DMO, invites participation from data providers and data managers across the marine community. Scientific observations of marine biodiversity and biology are essential for effective conservation of ocean species. These observations are collected at great cost, and are fundamental to advance scientific understanding of life in the sea. Marine ecological data are complex and heterogeneous, and there are unique methods and approaches to their collection, curation, sharing and distribution. To allow these observations to be reused for scientific, pedagogical and policy purposes, they need to be managed and well-described using standardized methods and formats. There is a pressing need in the marine community for standardized approaches to integrate biological data at local, regional, and global scales. This applies to observations spanning genetic to population data types, and across space and time. Major global databases such as OBIS and GBIF rely on Darwin Core, Ecological Metadata Language, and the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) to help manage taxonomic information. The observing community, focused on abiotic data collections, evolved to leverage netCDF and climate and forecast conventions, while the biological research and applications communities have traditionally operated outside of common standards; this landscape makes it difficult to assess the status and trends of critical indicators of living marine resources and ecosystem services. 

  • OCEANS 2020 Gulf Coast, 19-20 October 2020, Call for Abstracts Deadline has Been Extended: The deadline to submit your abstract for consideration has been extended until June 2nd. If your abstract is selected, it is your chance to present your innovative research in the marine technology field to the brightest minds in the industry. The Call for Papers will be open to abstracts in the following categories: 

    • Regular Technical Program: (this includes both OCEANS 2020 Gulf Coast topics and standard OCEANS topics): if abstract is chosen, authors will then submit a full paper which they’ll present as part of the technical program. Following the conference, the paper will be published in IEEE Xplore.

    • Student Poster Competition: if abstract is chosen, students will then submit a full paper and poster which they’ll present during the conference in the student poster section of the exhibit hall. Following the conference, the paper will then be published in IEEE Xplore. *This competition is open to any full-time student in an accredited program. Student must be listed as the lead and corresponding author. Selected applicants, based on abstract reviews, will have travel and registration expenses subsidized.

    • Second Annual General Student Poster Session: Students are also welcome to submit abstracts for consideration in the General Student Poster Session. If abstract is chosen, students will submit a poster, which they will present at the General Student Poster Session in the exhibit hall. Posters will not be published in IEEE Xplore following the conference. **This competition is open to any full-time undergraduate or graduate student in an accredited program, including those who may not have been accepted into the Student Poster competition. Student must be listed as the lead and corresponding author. Selected applicants may register at a reduced student rate that includes conference attendance, but not all social events, which can be purchased separately.

    • Special Sessions (this includes Town Halls and Panels): abstract and presentation are required; however, submission of a full paper is optional. Participation for non-paper sessions is at the discretion of the Technical Program Committee and/or Special Sessions Chair.

    • For more information on the OCEANS 2020 Gulf Coast Conference topics or paper submission process, please visit the OCEANS 2020 Gulf Coast website. 

 

Other Upcoming Meetings:

  • Capitol Hill Ocean Week, 9 June 2020, VIRTUAL: CHOW 2020 will focus on the global issue of protecting biodiversity. The breadth of life in our ocean and Great Lakes is astounding. Building a sustainable global economy that protects nature is critical to people’s health and well-being.  The meeting will offer a full day of virtual activities, including plenaries and concurrent breakout sessions on how science and technology are advancing our understanding of the marine environment, the role of protected areas in conserving biodiversity, and how to engage people as stewards. CHOW will also showcase the amazing work of ocean and Great Lakes partners through a virtual exhibit hall, and are planning a social gathering through a virtual closing happy hour.  Learn more and register at CapitolHillOceanWeek.org

  • BlueTech Expo will highlight innovation at CHOW - June 9: This year, the BlueTech Expo, the annual trade show of the International Ocean Science & Technology Industry Association, will be "co-locating" with Capitol Hill Ocean Week for the first time. The BlueTech Expo showcases current and emerging "blue technologies" to stimulate innovation and encourage industry-to-government collaboration. CHOW attendees will be able to speak directly to cutting edge technology companies and innovative start-ups in the marine technology space to learn about their newest solutions. The BlueTech exhibitors will be found inside #VirtualCHOW's Expo Hall. To find our more about BlueTech Expo and preview this year’s exhibitors, please visit www.BlueTechExpo.org 

  • 2020 NOAA Environmental Data Management Workshop, 17 – 21 August 2020, VIRTUAL: The NOAA Environmental Data Management Workshop will be entirely online this year! This is an opportunity to expand the workshop beyond the usual audience, and we're being careful to hold the sessions later in the day to accommodate western time zones. All the latest schedule info is on the workshop website. https://noaaedm2020.sched.com/ 

  • EMODnet 2nd Open Conference and Jamboree - Save-the-date: 22 – 25 September 2020: Five years after the first edition, we are delighted to announce the organisation of the second EMODnet Open Conference (22-23 September 2020) and Jamboree (23-25 September 2020). During the event, EMODnet partners, communicators and data providers and users will take stock of EMODnet achievements over the past 10 years, connect across stakeholder communities and set goals for the future. To start the week, the EMODnet Open Conference will focus on use cases and requirements for developing essential open marine data services for blue economy actors, the public sector, civil society and the research community. More details will follow soon.

  • SAVE THE DATE! 2nd International Operational Satellite Oceanography Symposium, 25 – 27 May 2021, Darmstadt, Germany: The Executive Steering Committee of the 2nd International Operational Satellite Oceanography Symposium, co-chaired by EUMETSAT and NOAA, is pleased to announce the next Symposium will be held in Darmstadt, Germany May 25-27, 2021.  The Committee will share more information, including the meeting website and the Programme Committee members in the coming months.  

 

Webinars:

  • Gliders in the Gulf, 29 May, 10am CDT: Did you know that Gulf of Mexico researchers have been running gliders to map ocean heat content during hurricane season for more than five years thanks to funding from Shell Upstream Americas?  Institutions participating in these glider runs include Texas A&M University’s Geochemical and Environmental Research Group (GERG), the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) and the U.S. Navy. Assistant Research Scientist Dr. Kerri Whilden and Research Assistant Brian Buckingham from GERG will lead a webinar to share the latest news about this effort and plans for the upcoming hurricane season. Meeting link or call in to +1 (571) 317-3122; Access Code: 337-334-205.

  • SERIES NOAA Live! Webinars: While you are home, NOAA's Regional Collaboration Network, in conjunction with Woods Hole Sea Grant and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, is offering this series on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11 EDT during school closures. The series started on March 16 and will go through June 12th, 2020.  Each webinar features a different NOAA expert/topic and a moderated question and answers session throughout so that you can get a peek at what our NOAA scientists do in all the various NOAA offices.  These webinars are geared toward grades 2-8 and allow students to connect with scientists.  Webinars are streamed via GoToWebinar, are between 45-60 minutes in length, and are recorded.   Visit the website to see upcoming webinars and access previously recorded webinars as well!

  • SERIES National Marine Sanctuaries Live Interactions: Join NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries as they connect you to the network of underwater parks encompassing over 600,000 square miles of pristine marine ecosystems. National marine sanctuaries span from the warm waters of the Florida Keys to the cool waters off the Washington coast and from the kelp forests off California to the freshwater of the Great Lakes. These places hold significant value for conservation, recreation, ecology, and culture, as well as aesthetic beauty. These treasured places are preserved for generations through efforts in research, monitoring, management, resource protection, and education.  Live events, tailored for students and run through Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, will connect viewers with national marine sanctuary experts in research, education, and exploration in real time. Through these programs, you will be able to learn about national marine sanctuaries and ask questions to leading experts in their field.  Check out the schedule here! 

  • SERIES MTS’ 2020 Virtual Symposia: An Online Series for Marine Technology Professionals: With the cancellation/postponement of a number of events in 2020 and many working from home or remotely, MTS is bringing together a series of virtual seminars of interest to the marine technology community. You are invited to attend these free, interactive symposia where you can learn about cutting-edge topics from some of the best and brightest minds working the field.  Keep up with all the symposia on the MTS Events page. https://www.mtsociety.org/events/ Upcoming webinars include:

    • Underwater Mateable Connector History: The Agony and Euphoria of Their Development, Wednesday, June 3, 2020, 12noon – 1:00 p.m. (EST), Register Here

    • Virtual Conference: Industry Role in Seabed 2030, Thursday, June 11, 2020, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (EST) [tentative], Register Here

  • SERIES BOEM Science Exchange Webinar Series, Spring 2020: The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) invites you to join us for our Science Exchange Webinar Series – where BOEM brings science to you. BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program and associated partners conduct an array of scientific studies that support science-based decision making. You're invited to attend these webinars and learn more about this important research.

    • Do Fish and Sea Turtles Like Sandy Bottoms? Using Ocean Technology to Answer Fishy Questions in Murky Water, May 28 at 3:00 pm (EDT), register here 

    • How Crowdsourcing and Open Source Small Satellites are Helping BOEM and NASA Develop the Next Generation of Animal Telemetry, June 3 at 3:00 pm (EDT), register here

  • Addressing Marine Litter in the Caribbean: Experiences from the Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter - Fri, May 29, 2020 10:00 - 11:00 AM EDT: Join GPML-Caribe as they present as part of the 2020 Global Partnership on Marine Litter Webinar Series. Topics: Promotion and Awareness and use of Citizen Science; Marine Litter Monitoring and Assessment; Microplastics Research in the Caribbean; and Private Sector and Community Partnerships. Speakers: Ms. Marissa Mohamed, Trinidad and Tobago; Ms. Carolyn Caporusso, Bonaire; Dr. Clare Morrall, Professor, Department of Biology, Ecology and Conservation, St. George's University, Grenada; and Ms. Bianca Young, Environmental Officer, Sandals Foundation, Jamaica. Register here (Meeting ID:820-683-155)

  • Gulf Coastal Acidification Network Webinar Series: The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Acidification Network (GCAN) is partnering with NOAA's Ocean Acidification Information Exchange (OAIE) to host a webinar tutorial about new items on the OAIE website. The Exchange has been advancing its website and will review navigation throughout the site.

Job & Internship Opportunities:

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Do you have suggestions for new things you would like to see in the Eyes on the Ocean IOOS Bi-Weekly? Contact us at: eoto@noaa.gov.

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