Events September 2022 OES Beacon

OCEANS 2022 Hampton Roads is on the Horizon

 Ray Toll, OCEANS 2022 Hampton Roads Co-Chair

OCEANS 2022 Hampton Roads is just a few months away, and all the planning since 2017 is about to bear fruit. Our Local Organizing Committee is unusually large, strong and diversified, resulting in a true whole of government/community approach to our conference theme, COASTAL RESILIENCE: ADAPTING TODAY TO SECURE TOMORROW. Our schedule is getting full as interest remains high with close to 600 abstracts received and processed. We have an impressive list of speakers to set the tone for what should be a very productive and informative week for all attendees at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.

Virginia Beach Conventions Center

A few highlights that make OCEANS 2022 Hampton Roads unique:

  • For the first time in conference history, NASA is playing a leadership role in conference planning and participation thanks to our NASA co-chair Laura Rogers.
  • Also, for the first time, Atlantic Submarine Headquarters is playing an active role with SUBLANT Technical Director Dr. Marty Irvine as an honorary chair. Through his leadership, Naval Sea Systems Command and many Navy Labs are participating in some capacity.
  • We are honoring the late Dr. Larry Atkinson, Old Dominion University Professor, who not only lead the nation in coastal resilience research and integrated ocean observing, but played a key role in both OCEANS 2012 Hampton Roads and this year’s conference.
  • We have created the Educational Village on the exhibit floor, allowing Universities and NGOs, and small businesses to showcase their products and research in marine technologies.
  • Among the special panels being organized, A Decade of the Oceans panel will address the cross-cutting themes identified by the UN Decade Committee.
Virginia Beach

Another key aspect to this conference is how we are promoting the mutual technologies and organizations from West Coast to East Coast, springboarding from OCEANS 2021 San Diego this past September to Hampton Roads, followed in 2023 by the Gulf Coast. For example, the US Navy’s largest fleet concentration areas exist in San Diego and Norfolk, followed by the Gulf Coast.  A key priority for these conferences has been an attempt to link the problem areas and challenges identified in OCEANS 21 San Diego to potential solutions in OCEANS 22 Hampton Roads. The technical tracks and exhibits will therefore follow similar themes in both.

King Neptune on Virginia Beach

OCEANS 2022 Hampton Roads is a hybrid conference (in person and virtual), and supported by many schools in the region led by Old Dominion University.

We therefore expect a lively and informative conference with in-water demonstrations. We look forward to seeing you October 17-20, 2022.

Visit us at hamptonroads22.oceansconference.org for all conference information and updates.