The National Academy of Sciences Ocean Sciences Board presents the following session and townhall at the 2012 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah

SESSION 10. Education, Scientific Outreach, Scientific Workforce and 11. Ocean Policy, Resource Management
117: Communicating a Changing Ocean: Challenges and Opportunities Facing Scientists and Decision Makers
Organizers: Martha McConnell, The National Academy of Sciences, mmcconnell@gmail.com; Susan Roberts, The National Academy of Sciences, sroberts@nas.edu

Communicating changes in the ocean from human activities requires a different skill set than research, but can become an important component of an ocean scientistís career. Especially with implementation of the new National Ocean Policy, ocean and coastal scientists are needed more than ever to effectively communicate complex ocean and coastal science to a broad audience. Today our society must grapple with many issues such as ocean acidification, rising sea levels, increased ocean temperature, hypoxia, and pollution. How can oceanographers be more effective at communicating what they know and how they know it? What communication challenges do scientists face when changes may take place over many years before the negative effects on society are manifested? This session will explore recent advances in our knowledge of changing ocean and coasts, share techniques and examples for effective presentations of scientific information to decision makers and the public, and identify priorities for ocean and coastal science to solve emerging ocean environmental problems. Submissions are invited to share lessons learned about communicating the state of our oceans to various stakeholder groups, including policy makers, and describe factors that shape public understanding of a changing ocean. (10, 11)
Abstract Submission Deadline and Early Registration Ends 7 October 2011  http://www.sgmeet.com/osm2012/default.asp

TOWNHALL
The Future of Ocean Color Remote Sensing: Advancing the Science with the Next Generation of Sensors
Organizers: Claudia Mengelt, National Academy of Sciences,  cmengelt@nas.edu; James A. Yoder, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, jyoder@whoi.edu; Paul DiGiacomo, NOAA/NESDIS, paul.digiacomo@noaa.gov

Ocean color remote sensing is an important tool for detecting regional to global trends and patterns in ocean biology and biogeochemistry. Scientists have made important discoveries during the SeaWiFS/MODIS era ñ a decade that has transformed the field.  With the demise of SeaWiFS and the aging MODIS and MERIS sensors, the research community is preparing to transition to a new generation of satellites. Some of the new sensors, such as VIIRS, will potentially extend the SeaWiFS/MODIS time series for global coverage.  Others offer new measurement capabilities that will, for example, improve imaging of coastal waters.  This session, convened by the National Academy of Sciences, explores exciting research to develop and harness the new sensors’ capability. During the transition, a range of research efforts--such as development of new algorithms and new approaches to merging data from multiple ocean color sensors --are required to generate the desired ocean color products. In addition, the advanced capabilities enable developing new products and testing of new research hypothesis. Speakers will present exciting new research results, algorithms, and/or approaches for ocean color remote sensing that will contribute to the successful transition to the next generation of sensors.

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Martha C. McConnell, PhD
Program Officer
Ocean Studies Board (OSB)
Polar Research Board (PRB)
National Research Council
National Academy of Sciences
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 202.334.2541
Email: mmcconnell@nas.edu