Oceanology 2008's Focus
Leading figures from the marine science and ocean technology community will focus on the key themes of climate change, meeting future energy needs and ensuring environmental and civil security at a global gathering in London March 2008. The detailed technical programme for the Oceanology International conference and exhibition, the largest meeting of its kind in the world, is now available and features an outstanding line-up of speakers.
The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), alongside the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT), has delivered an agenda-setting conference programme under the theme of ‘Technology, Sustainability and the Oceans'.
The event, to be held from 11th-13th March 2008 at the London ExCeL venue, is the premier global forum for the marine science and ocean technology community, with its proactive conference plenary and technical sessions running alongside an outstanding exhibition. Dr Ralph Rayner, Conference Chairman, says that Oceanology International is a global event and the selected themes for the conference are in keeping with this. The themes of climate change, meeting future demands for energy, and ensuring environmental and civil security are closely interconnected. They have been selected to allow the international marine science and technology community to showcase how it is contributing to the pressing global challenges of meeting future demands for energy at the same time as mitigating and adapting to climate change and ensuring protection of the environment and civil security.
The plenary and conference sessions will focus on an increased awareness of the vital role that marine science and technology must play. In the exhibition hall, meanwhile, attendees will be able to see how the marine science and technology community is rising to these challenges through the development of new products and services.
Opening To Lead The Way
A scene-setting plenary session on Day 1 will feature keynote speakers exploring the four conference themes - Energy from the Oceans, The Oceans and Climate Change, Evironmental and Civil Security. The subsequent technical session will develop the theme of Energy from the Oceans, while Day 2's attention will fall on The Oceans and Climate Change, and will feature the Oceanology Distinguished Lecture. The final day will focus on Environmental and Civil Security. Each day a wealth of scientific and technical papers will demonstrate how the
marine engineering, science and technology sectors are helping to deliver solutions.
Contributing to all of the conference themes is the need for comprehensive and sustained observations of the marine environment. One of the greatest challenges facing the marine science and technology community is completing and sustaining a global capability for ocean observation and forecasting - the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). The need for permanent monitoring of the oceans and coastal seas gives rise to a wealth of opportunities for new and improved sensors and instruments, communication technologies and data management and analysis techniques.
With just over 3 months to go until Oi08, more than 95% of the total exhibition space (nearly 6,500 square metres) has been sold, with nearly 400 exhibitors from more than 20 different countries to participate. Also featuring will be international pavilions from countries such as Canada, the United States of America, The Netherlands and Spain. Exhibiting companies will include Fugro, Acergy, Balmoral Offshore Engineering, Teledyne, Kongsberg Maritime, Sonardyne, IxSEA, DOF Subsea ASA, CodaOctopus, Datawell, the Macartney Group, BAE Systems, Reson AS and UTEC Survey.
