Speakers: Michael Triantafyllou, Carl Wunsch, Penny Chisholm, John Marshall, John Leonard, Dara Entekhabi and others. The critical role that oceans play in climate and the health of the planet is undeniable. Recent events in the Gulf of Mexico amply demonstrate the pressing need to better monitor and actively protect the oceans, as more and more activities take place across the entire water column. Many MIT faculty and WHOI staff conduct ocean research, which can contribute greatly to safer, wiser, more sustainable use of the oceans.