26 February 2024
AGU press contact:
Samson Reiny, [email protected] (UTC-5 hours)
+1 (202) 998-8654
GLASGOW — Ocean Sciences Meeting 2026 (OSM26) will be held in Glasgow – the first meeting outside of the United States for the biennial conference founded in 1982. The meeting will bring together more than 5,000 delegates in Scotland to discuss all aspects of oceanography following previous events in San Diego and New Orleans. OSM26, which will be held in February 2026, has been endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development.
Co-sponsored by the American Geophysical Union (AGU), the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) and The Oceanography Society (TOS), OSM is the global leader in ocean sciences conferences. These three organizations bring together participants from the worldwide ocean sciences community, including research scientists, industry experts, agency program managers, policymakers, and those working in non-governmental organizations. Understanding the global ocean is crucial to society, and these diverse participants will gather to share research results, discuss challenges, raise awareness, and collaborate on approaches to support a thriving, sustainable, and equitable future.
OSM is one of a growing number of sustainability-focused conferences that have chosen to convene at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) after Glasgow hosted the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021.
AGU, the Marine Scotland Directorate within the Scottish Government, the SEC, VisitScotland, the Glasgow Convention Bureau and Maritz Global Events collaborated on the proposal.
“Advancing ocean science to meet the urgent needs posed by the climate crisis requires international collaboration among scientists, science organizations, community leaders, the business community and international governing bodies, to name a few,” said Janice R. Lachance, Interim Executive Director and CEO of AGU. “By hosting Ocean Sciences Meeting outside of the United States for the first time, we’re expanding access to a new region of scientists who can share their findings, build relationships, and advance the impact of science. We’re also thrilled to be in Glasgow, a city that is leading the development of a green economy and has already hosted significant sustainability events, such as COP26.”
“I’m delighted that Glasgow has been chosen to host this important global gathering in 2026. Scotland has a long and proud heritage and tradition in ocean science and we have a wealth of expertise to share,” said Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands. “The Scottish Government recognizes the importance of the ocean to every aspect of our lives and people’s lives all around the world. Our Blue Economy Vision sets out how by 2045, Scotland’s shared stewardship of our marine environment supports ecosystem health, improved livelihoods, food security, economic prosperity, social inclusion and wellbeing.”
Commenting on the announcement, Kathleen Warden, Director of Conference Sales, Scottish Event Campus, said, “Scotland has a wealth of knowledge and cutting-edge expertise in the ocean sciences sector which makes us a natural host for the conference in its first venture outside of the USA.
‘As a team, the Scottish Government, VisitScotland, Glasgow Convention, and the SEC have worked together with AGU to secure this important conference of global significance for Scotland. We look forward to welcoming the ocean sciences community to Glasgow in 2026.”
AGU (www.agu.org) is a global community supporting more than half a million advocates and professionals in Earth and space sciences. Through broad and inclusive partnerships, AGU aims to advance discovery and solution science that accelerate knowledge and create solutions that are ethical, unbiased and respectful of communities and their values. Our programs include serving as a scholarly publisher, convening virtual and in-person events and providing career support. We live our values in everything we do, such as our net zero energy renovated building in Washington, D.C. and our Ethics and Equity Center, which fosters a diverse and inclusive geoscience community to ensure responsible conduct.
ASLO, the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (www.aslo.org) is an international aquatic sciences society that was founded in 1936. For 80 years, it has been the leading professional organization for researchers and educators in the field of aquatic science. The purpose of ASLO is to foster a diverse, international scientific community that creates, integrates and communicates knowledge across the full spectrum of aquatic sciences, advances public awareness and education about aquatic resources and research, and promotes scientific stewardship of aquatic resources for the public interest.
TOS, The Oceanography Society (www.tos.org) was founded in 1988 to advance oceanographic research, technology, and education, and to disseminate knowledge of oceanography and its application through research and education. TOS promotes the broad understanding of oceanography, facilitates consensus building across all the disciplines of the field, and informs the public about ocean research, innovative technology, and educational opportunities throughout the spectrum of oceanographic inquiry. As a professional society, TOS is committed to supporting a community that encourages the open expression and exchange of ideas, that is free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and that is welcoming to all members and to those who participate in its activities.