Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board (OOIFB)

Welcome to the OOIFB website. The National Science Foundation (NSF) Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board (OOIFB) provides independent input and guidance regarding the management and operation of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI).

Participants of the OOIFB and DSC Fall Meeting (Oct 27-29, 2023) in Alexandria, VA

OOI Bio-Optics Sensor Summer School

The OOIFB will host a 2023 summer school focusing on OOI optical attenuation and absorption data. It will cover how to access, analyze, and interpret data from the Sea-Bird AC-S! The OOI Bio-Optics Sensor Summer School will be July 17-21, 2023 at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. About 20 advanced graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early career scientists have been selected as participants. For additional details and information click HERE.

Elizabeth Ferguson, first recipient of the Larry P. Atkinson Travel Fellowship, makes a presentation at the Society for Marine Mammalogy conference 

Elizabeth Ferguson attended the 24th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals, held on 1 – 5 August, 2022 in Palm Beach, Florida and presented her research that uses OOI data. Elizabeth was selected as the first recipient of the Larry P. Atkinson Travel Fellowship for students and early career scientists. She has a position at California State University San Marcos and is the CEO and Founding Director of Ocean Science Analytics). A video of her presentation is available at: SMM2022 Video.

Northeast Pacific OOI Community Workshop 2022

The Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board (OOIFB) hosted a workshop focusing on current and future science that can be addressed using data from OOI’s infrastructure in the Northeast Pacific and other regional observatory arrays. The workshop was held on June 7-9, 2022 with a hybrid model that included in-person and virtual participation.

The workshop was aimed at researchers who are using or are considering using OOI data and/or adding instrumentation to OOI infrastructure; resource managers from national, state, and tribal agencies; and educators at all levels interested in using data from the OOI’s Cabled, Endurance, and Station Papa Arrays.  

Presentations and other information about the workshop are available here.

OOI Pioneer Array to Relocate to MAB!

It’s official, the next location of the OOI (Ocean Observatories Initiative) Coastal Pioneer Array is the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) and the move will take place in 2024.  The geographic footprint championed during the NSF-sponsored Innovations Lab #1 is the region of the MAB between Cape Hatteras and Norfolk Canyon.  This region offers opportunities to collect data on a wide variety of cross-disciplinary science topics including cross-shelf exchange, land-sea interactions associated with large estuarine systems, a highly productive ecosystem with major fisheries, and carbon cycle processes. This location also offers opportunities to improve our understanding of hurricane development, tracking and prediction, and offshore wind partnerships. Click here to learn more about plans for the Pioneer Array in its new location!

Larry P. Atkinson Travel Fellowship for Students and Early Career Scientists
Applications are being accepted

Do you need funding support to present your OOI research?

The Larry P. Atkinson Travel Fellowship helps early career scientists and graduate students who are actively involved in research and/or education programs using Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) data. The Fellowship provides funding support for the recipient to participate in and present a paper or poster on research or education using OOI data at a national or international conference or workshop. Participation in conferences that promote diversity and inclusiveness are encouraged.  Multiple awards are planned this year.

If you need funding to offset conference expenses (registration fees, travel costs, accommodations, etc.), we encourage you to apply.  Conference participation can be in-person or virtual.  Information on eligibility, requirements, and how to apply is available here