Dr. Rick Spinrad Announced As Keynote Speaker For Oceanology International Conference 2022

London UK – March 1st 2022 - U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator will provide remarks at ‘key global ocean scientific event’.

Industry professionals from multiple fields of ocean science and technology will gather for the first time in four years at the Oceanology International (Oi) Exhibition and Conference running at London’s ExCel centre from 15-17 March 2022.

The keynote speaker for Oceanology International 2022 is the United States Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad. NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean and coasts; share that knowledge and information with others; and conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. Dr. Spinrad is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of NOAA and its 12,000 employees, including developing NOAA’s portfolio of products and services to address the climate crisis, enhancing environmental sustainability and fostering economic development, and increasing equity both within NOAA and in its service delivery to communities.

Dr. Spinrad has served NOAA in other capacities, including as NOAA’s Chief Scientist under President Barack Obama from 2014 until 2016. He also led NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and National Ocean Service from 2003-2010. During this time, Dr. Spinrad co-led the White House Committee that developed the nation’s first set of ocean research priorities and oversaw the revamping of NOAA’s research enterprise, including the development of the agency’s Scientific Integrity policy.

In addition to his leadership roles at NOAA, Dr. Spinrad has served as a Professor of Oceanography and Senior Adviser to the Vice President of Research at Oregon State University (OSU) and Vice President for Research at OSU from 2010-2014. Dr. Spinrad also held leadership positions at the U.S. Office of Naval Research and Oceanographer of the Navy, where he was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Award — the highest award given by the U.S. Navy to a civilian. He has held faculty appointments at OSU, the U.S. Naval Academy, and George Mason University; served as Executive Director at the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education; was President of Sea Tech, Inc.; and worked as a research scientist at OSU and the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. He also developed the National Ocean Sciences Bowl for high school students. In the international arena, Dr. Spinrad served as the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission from 2005-2009.

NOAA plays a key role in the United States’ efforts to tackle the climate crisis. This includes helping to grow the New Blue Economy which leverages NOAA’s data and knowledge of the ocean and climate to drive sustainable economic development and deliver world-class data, products, and services that inform climate-smart decision-making.

Dr. Spinrad emphasizes the importance of strengthening innovative partnerships to achieve these goals: “The New Blue Economy offers opportunities for equitable and sustainable, climate-smart innovation, economic growth, and expanded partnerships to meet this extraordinary moment. The ocean science and technology community has a key role to play in developing new tools to understand our blue planet, spur sustainable economic development, and advance environmental stewardship.”

Oi’s Exhibition Director David Ince agrees: “We are delighted that Dr. Spinrad will join us in London as a keynote speaker.  NOAA is a fundamental player in the international ocean science community and will help to map out the future direction for Oceanology International and I hope our visitors and attendees are excited as I am to hear Dr. Spinrad’s thoughts on the New Blue Economy.”

The Ocean Futures Keynote Panel sessions will run daily as part of the Oi Conference programme and event organisers RX Global have worked with industry to source influential, engaging speakers who will showcase the latest advancements in the New Blue Economy, the interactions between Science and Technology, and The Energy Transition.

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