Forget about Oceans 13, as there is a very special Oceans event taking place in the city of Aberdeen this week – Oceans 07!
Oceanic experts from around the world will be highlighting the significant challenges facing the marine community at this week's Oceans '07 Aberdeen conference which officially kicks off today (Monday, June 18) at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
This week, the Granite City will be the focus of the global marine community when the very first IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, OCEANS conference is held in the UK (June 18-21).
The conference will be officially opened on Tuesday, June 19 at 10.30am by Richard Lochhead, MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment of the Scottish Executive, in his address on "Marine policy drivers from a Scottish perspective".
"Marine Challenges: Coastline to Deep Sea" is the theme of Oceans '07 Aberdeen and will highlight the significant challenges facing marine, subsea, and oceanic engineers in their drive to understand the complexities of the world's oceans. These challenges start from the shallowest waters around our coastlines and stretch to the deepest subsea trenches and cover not only science, technology and subsea exploration, but also preservation and sustainability, extraction and protection of resources (mineral and natural), policy and education, and financial support.
Oceans '07 IEEE Aberdeen will bring the worldwide marine community of scientists, engineers, and technologists together with policy makers, managers and educators.
More than 300 technical papers and student posters have been selected for Oceans '07 IEEE Aberdeen. Over 600 delegates are attending from more than 35 countries, including Argentina, North America, Venezuela, Russia, Malaysia, Asia, Australasia and from across Europe.
A series of plenary talks (to be held on Tuesday, June 19) and keynote talks (to be held on Wednesday 20and Thursday 21June) and technical papers will focus on the 'Challenges' theme.
Professor John Watson, of the University of Aberdeen and Chair of Oceans '07 is looking forward to the conference and said: "We are extremely proud that the IEEE chose Aberdeen to host the very first OCEANS conference and exhibition to be held in Scotland and the UK.
"Oceans' 07 Aberdeen will highlight the significant challenges that face our marine and oceanic engineers and will also show the diversity and range of work covered by all fields within ocean engineering.
"In Aberdeen, there is a close interaction between academia, the local oil and gas industry and the marine community in general.
"Participating in major events such as Oceans '07 is extremely important for local institutions like the University of Aberdeen, in providing an opportunity for our leading academics to further develop our strong engagement with key players in this rapidly changing industry.
Spanning three days, the technical programme provides delegates with coverage of some of the most important marine and coastal research currently being undertaken around the world – including renewable energy, oceans and climate science, conservation and sustainability, subsea optics, deepsea exploration, integrated observing systems, remote sensing, sonar and acoustics.
Associated with the technical conference sessions is an important exhibition of some of the major companies and institutions representing the global and local marine community. Eighty five exhibitors will present their wares and services in the exhibition arena of AECC and will demonstrate some of the latest state-of-the-art devices and technology devised to help us explore, understand and utilise the oceans environment.