Message From Co-Chairs

In 1998, during the International Year of the Ocean (the most recent major focus on our oceans), there was a groundswell of involvement from all interests and levels. The President and Vice President spoke at the National Ocean Conference, which was the key event for this effort, and several important initiatives followed, such as the formation of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. In OCEANS 2005 MTS/IEEE, we will invite the President, along with others from his Administration and our Congress, to participate, and we look forward to highlighting the recent report from the Commission and other related programs that recommend the future direction of our national ocean policy. But we live in a different world than in 1998, and so we will also look to the challenges that collectively face our ocean nations through homeland maritime security, stewardship, resources, advancing our knowledge, and logical and productive global engagement.

We want you to help us create a landmark international conference that will help educate us all about the knowledge needed to benefit the world's community and improve our interaction with the global ocean. Our message is that no matter what our citizens do, through organizations or as individuals in whatever aspect of science, technology, engineering, policy, education, or other involvement, they are either directly or indirectly involved with the future of our world's society and its relationship to our "One Ocean."

Washington, D.C. is a powerful venue for the conference, not only as the capital of the United States, but also as the focal point for global engagement, challenge, and success. We will stress the necessity of maximizing our understanding of our ocean, balancing our use and stewardship, and looking forward with new and exciting science and technology.

Through the years, MTS and OES have enjoyed close professional relationships with many ocean organizations, and we seek to build on that by presenting a conference that has opportunities for participation by other professional societies and organizations both directly and indirectly involved with the ocean community. We need to collectively develop logical and sustainable solutions to complex problems that face our society through those who act in the good of the public interest. We want to bring to bear the full spectrum of science and technology in a synergistic relationship that focuses without bounds on that objective. This is precisely the dynamic that we need to engage our global community, understand fully our dependency on the oceans, and truly move forward in society's best interests for the future of our "One Ocean."

For More Information:
info@oceans2005.org

EXECUTIVE CO-CHAIRS

Barry Stamey
703-610-1652

Fred Klein
703-610-1596

Steve Holt
703-610-1709

Sponsored by the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)/Oceanic Engineering Society (OES).