Oceanography | September 2021
Working Together Toward a
Successful OSM 2022
IN MY SEPTEMBER COLUMN, I’d like to share some history of
the AGU/ASLO/TOS partnership that organizes the biennial
Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM). The three societies each fill a
unique niche in the development of the conference agenda and
messaging, and cooperate to make OSM vibrant, inspiring, and
welcoming. I am proud of the way the three organizations have
worked together to make this meeting a huge success.
OSM is the preeminent venue for scientific exchange in the
marine sciences. It is the meeting we all look forward to attend-
ing, the meeting that inspires each and every one of us. I vividly
recall the plenary talk given by Jane Lubchenco at OSM 2020
as the inaugural recipient of the TOS Mary Sears Award. It was
a call to arms to every one of us in the ocean sciences commu-
nity, reminding us of the important role we all play in build-
ing a resilient planet. Moments like these are what make OSM
a flagship meeting.
The first OSM was convened in 1982 as a joint venture
between AGU and ASLO, with 700 attending; OSMs have been
held biennially since then. TOS formally joined the partnership
in 2004, so the 2006 meeting in Hawai‘i was the first to be orga-
nized under the AGU/ASLO/TOS partnership, with the number
of attendees having grown to 3,500. By OSM 2020 in San Diego,
we counted 6,300 attendees. It is important to reflect on this
growth, to acknowledge the central role that this meeting plays
in our ocean sciences community.
The organization of each OSM starts years before the actual
meeting. While all three participating societies play an import-
ant role in the planning, a lead society is placed in the driver’s
seat for each meeting. The venue and lead society are deter-
mined four to six years before the meeting takes place. It is typ-
ically necessary to make commitments for hotel and conference
venues two to four years before the actual meeting. The financial
investment is enormous and comes with a healthy dose of risk to
the organizing societies.
Volunteers play critical roles in the organization of each OSM.
Approximately 22 months prior to the meeting, the core mem-
bers of the Program Committee (a co-chair, a vice chair, an early
career representative, a student representative, and staff repre-
sentatives appointed by each society) meet to reflect on commu-
nity input regarding the previous OSM and develop the theme
for the next event, generate ideas for plenary speakers, and dis-
cuss inclusion of new activities. As the upcoming OSM begins to
take shape, additional members with expertise in a broad range
of ocean science- related disciplines are added to the Program
Committee. Members review session proposals as they are sub-
mitted, communicate with proposers to identify duplication
with other sessions, and can encourage submissions in emerg-
ing areas of research. After abstracts are submitted, the Program
Committee schedules the abstracts as oral or poster presentations.
In guiding the planning process, the three co-chairs invest
hundreds of hours of their time. I’d like to thank Grace Chang
for her service as 2022 co-chair on behalf of TOS. Because
the responsibilities of serving as a co-chair are quite involved,
co-chairs from each society are initially appointed as vice chairs
in order to gain two years of experience prior to taking on the
co-chair role for the next OSM. We’re fortunate that Dick Crout
will follow Grace as TOS OSM co-chair in 2024, a role he is
familiar with since he served as co-chair for OSM 2018.
While we’re still in the midst of executing OSM 2022, we’re
seeking the next wave of volunteers for OSM 2024. TOS recently
issued a call for self-nominations for vice chair, early career rep-
resentative, and student representative. Those who apply to serve
as vice chair for 2024 must be prepared to serve as co-chair in
2026. TOS members who apply for the early career and stu-
dent representative slots will work collaboratively with AGU and
ASLO representatives to build upon previous activities and initia-
tives aimed at their constituencies. Examples of programs sched-
uled by the TOS Early Career representative, Logan Brenner, and
Student Representative, Josette McLean, include dedicated work-
shops, receptions, and career discussions. More information on
these events will be posted soon at oceansciencesmeeting.org.
I hope this column gives everyone a glimpse into the com-
plexity and timeframes involved in organizing an OSM as well
as the extensive commitment of a vast number of dedicated vol-
unteers from all three participating organizations. I am still in
awe at the seamless appearance of OSM to the regular attendee.
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our lives
and travel is still uncertain, we may have some difficult decisions
ahead of us in the coming months. But I am sure that working
together, and with the dedicated leadership of all three partic-
ipating societies, we will be able to provide you with the OSM
you have come expect.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Andone C. Lavery, TOS President