Ocean Observatories Initiative at the 2024 AGU Conference

By Amber Coogan | December 26, 2024 |

The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) participated in the 2024 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting in Washington, D.C. This premier event served as a global platform for thousands of scientists and researchers to share breakthroughs and foster collaborations in Earth and space sciences. OOI took part in presentations, interactive discussions, and participation in the Ocean Observatories Initiative Facilities Board (OOIFB) Town Hall.

OOIFB Town Hall

A key event at AGU was the OOIFB Town Hall held on December 10th. This in-person session provided an opportunity for the community to engage directly with OOI representatives, NSF and NOAA program leaders, and the OOIFB. The event featured:

Updates from OOI’s Principal Investigator (PI), Jim Edson who shared the latest developments from the Program Management Office (PMO) and the Marine Implementing Organizations (MIOs).
Interactive Panel Discussion: A panel of experts, including representatives from OOI’s Endurance Array, Mid-Atlantic Bight Array (MAB), Regional Cabled Array (RCA), and PMO discussed opportunities and challenges for observatory-based research.

Participants heard from PI’s about the proposal process and discussed opportunities for adding new instruments to the infrastructure. The session emphasized the importance of community input and encouraged feedback to inform OOI’s future directions.

The panel members included:

Jim Edson (OOI/WHOI)
Al Plueddemann (OOI/WHOI)
Ed Dever (OOI/OSU)
Mike Vardaro (OOI/UW)
George Voulgaris (NSF)
Kaity Goldsmith (NOAA)

Researchers, educators, and scientists using or considering OOI data were encouraged to share their insights, helping to shape future OOI research and initiatives. Examples involved the use of existing OOI data and the addition of new sensors by external PIs for specific research projects. Other opportunities to use OOI infrastructure was discussed including the use of available space on our Operations and Maintenance cruise. Making better use of individual observing systems by combining measurement capabilies (e.g., between NSF/OOI and NOAA) was discussed as an action item.

Engaging at the OOI Booth

The OOI exhibit booth was a hub of activity throughout the conference. Attendees explored live demonstrations of OOI’s data tools, learned about recent updates to infrastructure, and connected with OOI representatives to discuss potential collaborations. The booth provided an accessible entry point for researchers new to OOI data and offered experienced users an opportunity to delve deeper into its capabilities.

Looking Ahead

Through discussions, booth interactions, and participation in the OOIFB Town Hall, OOI demonstrated its commitment to innovation and collaboration. Looking forward, OOI remains dedicated to fostering an engaged community of researchers. The feedback and ideas gathered during AGU will help shape OOI’s next steps, ensuring its data and infrastructure continue to meet the needs of the scientific community.

For more information on OOI’s resources, presentations, and opportunities for collaboration, visit our website or follow us on social media.