2026 Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM)

The Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) is the flagship conference for the ocean sciences and the larger ocean-connected community. At OSM, attendees from across the globe come together to advance global science, discover the latest research findings, and connect with peers, leading experts, and organizations committed to ocean sustainability.

For those interested in marine light pollution, there will be the session PI006 – Light in the ocean: From fundamental driver to emerging change – drivers, impacts and monitoring changing marine lightscapes. This session explores the drivers, dynamics, and ecological consequences of changing underwater light regimes. We invite interdisciplinary contributions spanning ocean optics, microbial ecology, marine biology, environmental physics, and coastal management. Topics may include remote sensing and in situ monitoring, ecological modeling, biological feedback to ocean optics, and the role of light in shaping ecosystem structure and function. Emphasis will be placed on research that integrates spatial and temporal scales—from estuaries to ocean basins and from historical change to future projections—as well as studies that link science with policy or stakeholder engagement. By illuminating how altered light environments interact with climate and land-use change, this session aims to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue and inform evidence-based strategies for managing and conserving aquatic ecosystems in a rapidly changing world. Deadline for abstract submission is Wednesday 20 August 2025, submit here. Research titled ‘Redefining the Photic Zone: Beyond the Autotroph-Centric View of Light in the Ocean’ will be presented by AquaPLAN researchers Tim Smyth (PML) and Tom Davies (UOP). Stay tuned for more updates!

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