The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is requesting perspectives on what ocean observation capabilities it should provide. The agency recently issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeking public input on priorities, strategies, and technologies for future ocean observing systems that effectively support scientific needs and align with NSF’s mission and strategic plan. NSF seeks responses, from both U.S. and international stakeholders, to a suite of questions addressing topics including observational gaps, fixed and mobile assets, coordination among (national and/or international) programs, and which components of NSF’s current ocean observing portfolio should be maintained and/or updated. Group responses are welcome, however, informed individual responses are strongly encouraged. Individuals do not need to respond to ALL questions. The deadline for responses to the DCL is September 30, 2026
It is important to stress that this request for input spans the entire scope of ocean science and ocean observing systems. To support this multidisciplinary community and highlight integrated components across different sectors, the OOIFB is collaborating with ocean scientists and entities representing a broad disciplinary swath of the oceanographic community to organize several virtual “ocean observing exchanges.” The goal of these Zoom-based dialogues is to discuss the NSF DCL, review the prompts, and co-develop ideas/priorities to encourage and inform individual and organization-level responses. An outpouring of community input, particularly in the form of individual responses that address specific priorities, is vital to informing and encouraging sustained NSF investment in ocean observing resources.
A schedule of virtual exchanges, associated facilitators, and registration links are listed below. Registration is required to participate in an ocean exchange. Each exchange will function as a collaborative working session lasting about 60 minutes (with an option to extend each session if necessary). The exchange will begin with a quick overview of the DCL, existing NSF-funded systems that are part of the DCL, as well as a review of NSF priorities (as stated in the agency’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan). Individuals may find the sessions most helpful if they are able to attend sessions aligned with their expertise and/or attend a general session; however, all members of the ocean observing community, spanning all types of expertise, career stage, and position, are welcome at all sessions. Interested individuals can also attend more than one session. Session summaries will be posted online for additional reference.
The OOIFB also recognizes the importance of maintaining these forward-thinking conversations and will thus continue these ocean observing exchanges after the DCL has closed. A Community Forum on the Future of Ocean Observing will also be hosted in early December, prior to the 2026 AGU Conference in San Francisco, CA. More details on additional virtual events and the in-person forum will be shared soon. Please save December 4-5, 2026 on your calendars.
Schedule: Ocean Observing Exchanges (virtual via Zoom):
*NOTE: This schedule will be updated as more sessions are added, registration links are generated, and other details are available. Please check back often.
Date/Time: Friday, September 11, 2026; 12pm ET/9am PT
Facilitator(s): William Wilcock (University of Washington)
Topical focus: OOI RCA and COSZO
Registration Link: https://uri-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/i9Ogl7D2Q5-W7o5ZcDpn_Q
Date/Time: Monday, September 14, 2026; 12pm ET/9am PT
Facilitator(s): Hilary Palevsky (Boston College) and Heather Benway (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry (OCB) Project Office)
Topical focus: Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry
Registration Link: https://uri-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/lzkMnSQHQRSr2fnDzAkzCw
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 16, 2026; 12pm ET/9am PT
Facilitator(s): Zoe Krauss (University of Washington) and Bruce Howe (University of Hawaii, Mānoa)
Topical focus: Seafloor Fiber Sensing and SMART Cables
Registration Link: https://uri-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/LQmPV9p0RgGTCi6LzIDD7g
Date/Time: Thursday, September 17, 2026; 12:30pm ET/9:30am PT
Facilitator(s): Heather Benway (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry (OCB) Project Office)
Topical focus: Ocean biology and biogeochemistry, Air-sea interactions
Registration Link:
Date/Time: Monday, September 28, 2026; time TBD
Facilitator(s): Catherine Edwards (University of Georgia, Skidway Institute of Oceanography)
Topical focus:
Registration Link:
Date/time: Tuesday, September 29, 2026; time TBD
Facilitator(s): Jaime Palter (University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography)
Topical focus: Infrastructure for hypothesis driven research
Registration Link:
Date/Time: Wednesday, September 30, 2026; time TBD
Facilitator(s):
Topical focus: General session
Registration Link: