The major 2008 Oceanology International Conference (OI08), with its theme ‘Technology, Sustainability and the Oceans’, is set to explore the pivotal role played by marine science and ocean technology in meeting the interlocking challenges of climate change, meeting future energy needs and ensuring environmental and civil security.
Recognised as the premier global forum for the marine science and ocean technology community and the largest meeting of its kind anywhere in the world, the OI08 conference and exhibition will be held 11-13 March at London’s ExCeL. The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) are tasked with organising all elements of what promises to be a highly stimulating milestone conference, based on a scene setting plenary session and targeted scientific and technical sessions.
Through keynote papers the conference will explore the threats, challenges and opportunities posed by climate change, meeting future energy needs and ensuring environmental and civil security, with scientific and technical papers showing how the marine engineering, science and technology community is helping to deliver solutions. A call for papers has now been published for scientific and technical papers in three strands encompassing The Oceans and Climate Change; Energy from the Oceans; and Environmental & Civil Security. The closing date for receipt of synopses, which can be submitted online at www.imarest.org/events/oceanology, is 25 July 2007.
“Well-informed business leaders increasingly understand that future profits depend on recognising and responding to these challenges,” says IMarEST’s Chief Executive, Keith Read CBE. “As well as being a threat, they also represent an opportunity. It is businesses that will deliver the engineering, scientific and technological developments necessary to mitigate and adapt to climate change, achieve sustainable energy supplies and respond to threats to environmental and civil security.”
Looking forward to the topics coming under the conference spotlight at OI08, Ian Gallett, Executive Secretary of the SUT explains: ”The oceans control climate and are a major source of energy, both as fossil fuel, and increasingly from renewable resources. Climate change and unsustainable resource exploitation pose threats to the ocean environment. Conflicts over resources impact on the safety of maritime activities and the integrity of maritime borders”.
Dr Ralph Rayner, Vice President of IMarEST, a member of the SUT Council, and Chairman of Reed Spearhead Exhibition’s Marine Division explains: “It is the marine engineering, science and technology community that holds the key to better understanding the role of the oceans in climate, protecting the ocean environment, engineering the capability to tap the vast energy resources of the ocean, protecting coastal areas from storms and flooding, and ensuring the safe and secure conduct of maritime activities and maritime trade. It is this rich resource that we are eager to tap to ensure a highly relevant and stimulating OI08 conference.”
The topics
The newly published Call for Papers at www.imarest.org/events/oceanology, highlights, under the three strand headings, the thought-provoking premise behind each strand and the topics on which papers are sought.
The Oceans and Climate Change strand will showcase the innovative science and technology being brought to bear on better understanding the marine environment with papers invited on topics including: novel sensors, instruments and platforms for ocean monitoring; developments in ocean data communications; developments in oceanographic data management; new data analysis and interpretation techniques; and developments in ocean modelling and the management of oceanographic data.
The Energy from the Oceans strand will show how the marine science and ocean technology community is rising to, and meeting, the challenges set by frontier offshore exploration and production and the development of marine renewable energy through innovative bathymetric, geophysical, geotechnical and metocean survey techniques, with papers invited on developments in these key areas; case studies in the support of offshore and marine renewable energy developments; developments in data management; and new techniques for data interpretation.
Last, but by no means least, the Environment and Civil Security strand will explore how marine science and ocean technology underpin the protection of the environment and help to ensure the security of offshore operations, maritime trade and coastal populations. Papers are invited on monitoring and predicting marine environmental impact; coastal zone management; helping to protect coastal populations; coastal surveillance technologies; and technologies to improve the safety and security of maritime operations.
The next step
Synopses (250-500 words) can be submitted online or via Victoria Everard, Events Department, IMarEST, 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2655; Fax: +44 (0)20 7382 2667. Email: victoria.everard [at] imarest [dot] org . The closing date for submissions is 25 July. The OI08 conference committee will have completed its deliberations during August, and authors will be informed of the final programme by 31 August.
