SOOS and SOOS Connected Activities at SCAR OSC 2026

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The 12th SCAR Open Science Conference 2026 is taking place in Oslo, Norway, from 8–19 August 2026, where the wider polar research community will gather under the theme “Diving into Antarctic Science – Making Waves for the Future.” 

SOOS and its community members will have a strong presence throughout the conference, contributing to scientific sessions, workshops, business meetings, and collaborative events spanning Southern Ocean biogeochemistry, sea ice, observing systems, FAIR data, and international coordination initiatives.

Whether you are interested in joining a working group meeting, learning about the latest Southern Ocean science, or connecting with the wider Antarctic community, we invite you to join us at one of the SOOS or SOOS-related activities below.

 

SOOS Group Meetings

Censusing Animal Populations from Space (CAPS) Capability Working Group Meeting
  • Saturday, 8 August | 08:30–10:30 | Room: Federation Square
  • Business meeting open to everyone

  • The SOOS CAPS (Censusing Animal Populations From Space) group will meet to discuss recent science and progress on satellite observations of polar vertebrae species. This group is a long standing part of SOOS and this will for the annual meeting to discuss current work and synchronize future plans.

SOOS Data Management Sub-Committee (DMSC) Meeting (Closed Meeting)
  • Saturday, 8 August | 13:00–17:00 | Room: Festplassen
  • Closed Meeting
West Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc (WAPSA) Regional Working Group Workshop (Open Meeting)
  • Saturday, 8 August | 13:15–21:00 | Room: Hyde Park C & Online
  • Workshop

  • Join the WAPSA community to identify key knowledge gaps, discuss future research priorities, and help shape the next decade of coordinated science and observations across the West Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc region.
  • More information and register here...
SOOS Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) Meeting (Closed Meeting)
  • Sunday, 9 August | 09:00–17:30 | Room: Prado Park
  • Closed Meeting
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SOOS Co-Convened Workshops

Southern Ocean Air-Sea Flux Measurements (W9)

Co-convened by SOOS SOFLUX Capability Working Group members Channing Prend, Sebastiaan Swart, Marcel du Plessis, and Sandy Thomalla.

  • Monday, 10 August | 11:30–13:00 | Room: Federation Square
  • Co-convened by SOOS SOFLUX Capability Working Group members Channing Prend, Sebastiaan Swart, Marcel du Plessis, and Sandy Thomalla.

  • This workshop will bring together experts working on air-sea exchanges in the Southern Ocean to discuss measurement approaches, emerging technologies, and future priorities for coordinated observations.

 SOOS Co-Convened Sessions

Southern Ocean Biogeochemistry: Linking Ecosystem Dynamics, Nutrient Cycling, and Carbon Export (S29)
  • Tuesday, 11 August | 11:30–13:00 (Block I) | Room: Hide Park A
  • Tuesday, 11 August | 14:00–15:30 (Block II)  | Room: Hide Park A
  • Tuesday, 11 August | 16:00–17:30 (Block III) | Room: Hide Park A
  • Co-convened by SOOS members Sarat Chandra Tripathy, Sian Henley, and Juan Hofer.

  • This session explores the interconnected roles of ecosystem dynamics, nutrient cycling, and carbon export in the Southern Ocean and their importance in a changing climate.
Understanding Antarctic Sea Ice: Earth-System Interactions, Change, and Global Significance (S37)
  • Monday, 10 August | 16:00–17:30 (Block I) | Room: Hyde Park C
  • Tuesday, 11 August | 11:30–13:00 (Block II) | Room: Hyde Park C
  • Wednesday, 12 August | 11:30–13:00 (Block III) | Room: Hyde Park C
  • Co-convened by SOOS members Alyce Hancock, Wolfgang Rack, Andrew Thompson, and Stefanie Arndt.

  • This session brings together researchers investigating Antarctic sea ice and its connections with the broader Earth system, from climate processes to ecosystem impacts.
Coordinated Long-Term Observations in Antarctica: Building the Network of Networks (S39)
  • Monday, 10 August | 11:30–13:00 (Block I) | Room: Central Park B
  • Monday, 10 August | 14:00–15:30 (Block II) | Room: Central Park B
  • Monday, 10 August | 16:00–17:30 (Block III) | Room: Central Park B
  • Co-convened by Alyce Hancock

  • Long-term observations are fundamental to understanding change in Antarctica. This session highlights efforts to strengthen coordination and build an interconnected network of observing initiatives across the Antarctic region.
  • Featured presentations include:
    Alyce Hancock – (Keynote) The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS): Connecting observations to understanding in a changing Southern Ocean

 

Sharing Antarctic Research Data FAIRly to Support Interdisciplinary Research Collaborations (S46)
  • Tuesday, 11 August | 14:00–15:30 (Block I) | Room: Central Park A
  • Tuesday, 11 August | 16:00–17:30 (Block II) | Room: Central Park A
  • Co-convened by SOOS DMSC members Anne Treasure, Johnathan Kool, Ria Olivier, Petra ten Hoopen, Anton van de Putte, Taylor Ziegler, and Sophie Orendorf.

  • This session, facilitated by SCADM and SOOS, explores how Antarctic and Southern Ocean communities are advancing FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data practices. Topics range from biodiversity data standards and knowledge graphs to multidisciplinary data portals such as SOOSmap and approaches for responsibly sharing social science data.

    Featured presentations include:
  • Michaela Miller – Open Access to the Southern Ocean: SOOSmap as a Gateway to Multidisciplinary Data
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SOOS Community & Partner Events

Joint SCAR/COMNAP/NPI Symposium: Investing in Observational Infrastructure and Expertise to Ensure Success for IPY-5 and Beyond
  • Monday, 10 August | 09:00–11:00 | Room: Ballroom
  • Panel Member: Alyce Hancock, SOOS Executive Officer
Data Management Help Desk (O2)
  • Monday, 10 August | 16:00–17:30 | Room: Prado Park
  • Hosted by SOOS DMSC members Anne Treasure and Johnathan Kool.

  • Have questions about data management, metadata, or FAIR data practices? Drop in and connect with members of the SOOS data community.
 Towards Essential Biodiversity Variables for Antarctic Seafloor Fauna (W18)
  • Monday, 10 August | 16:00–17:30 | Federation Square 
  • Co-convened by SOOS SSC Member, Friederike Weith
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  • This workshop will bring together researchers interested in Southern Ocean benthic ecosystems and the development of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) for Antarctic seafloor fauna. Discussions will focus on identifying priorities for coordinated and sustained observations, addressing data gaps, and strengthening collaboration to support future monitoring and conservation efforts across the Southern Ocean.
The Southern Ocean in the UN Decade for Ocean Science: the DCC-SOR, Other Decade Structures, Antarctica InSync and SYNCHRONY (O3)
  • Tuesday, 11 August | 11:30–13:00 | Room: Prado Park

    This event will showcase the Decade Collaborative Centre for the Southern Ocean Region (DCC-SOR), the Southern Ocean Taskforce, and other Ocean Decade structures, including the Decade Coordination Office for Ocean Data Sharing and the Decade Collaborative Centre for Ocean Prediction. Discussions will highlight Antarctica InSync and the newly launched SYNCHRONY project, in which SOOS is a major partner, demonstrating exciting opportunities for collaboration across the Southern Ocean community.
Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area Research Coordination Network: Inviting Updates and Collaboration (W16)
  • Friday, 14 August | 11:30 – 13:00 | Room: Frognerparken
  • Hosted by the SOOS-endorsed Ross Sea Research Coordination Network (RCN)
Various Antarctica InSync and IPY events
  • See conference program for details
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SOOS Poster

DueSouth: Advancing Sustainable and Collaborative Polar Science Through Shared Logistics
  • Digital Poster Gallery (view the poster here...)

  • Michaela Miller, Julia Bach, Alyce Hancock, and Maria Grigoratou

     

    Polar science increasingly relies on international collaboration and well-coordinated fieldwork to address global challenges. DueSouth, hosted within the European Polar Board’s infrastructure and logistics planning tool, Polardex, provides an innovative solution for aligning field activities across the Southern Ocean and at polar research stations. By enabling researchers to share upcoming field plans and discover who is going where, when, and with what objectives, DueSouth creates visibility across the polar research community and opens new opportunities for collaboration. The platform fosters interdisciplinary partnerships across the geosciences, physical sciences, and biology, helping researchers connect “beyond the borders” of traditional disciplinary and institutional boundaries. In doing so, it reduces duplication of effort, promotes efficient use of resources, and helps minimise the environmental footprint of polar field campaigns. By facilitating transparency and coordination, DueSouth not only improves logistical efficiency but also maximises scientific outcomes. Freely accessible at https://polardex.org/due-south, DueSouth plays a vital role in shaping future polar initiatives and advancing international collaboration in support of sustainable, impactful scienc

Join Us in Oslo!

With contributions spanning governance, observations, data management, and international scientific coordination, SCAR OSC 2026 promises to be an exciting opportunity to celebrate the strength and diversity of the Southern Ocean community.

We look forward to seeing you in Oslo this August!

View the full conference programme:
https://scar2026.org/schedule

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News article 29/Junel/2026/JB