[Feb 2026] Contributing several roles to the Ocean Science Meeting 2026

From Feb 22-28 2026, I had the honor to attend the Ocean Science Meeting 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland.

During this meeting, I had the opportunity to contribute in several roles:

✅Chairing the Session “Changing Ocean Physical Conditions in a Warming Climate”. As a primary chair, we brought the model people and observation people together, and exchanged the new results on OHC, freshwater, stratification, and sea level rise in a warming climate. We identified key gaps and priorities for the physical oceanography community.

✅One oral presentation with the title ‘Four Decades of Upper-Ocean Water Mass Changes in the South Atlantic in a Warming Climate’. By sharing new observational results on the South Atlantic long-term changes in different water masses, we called attention to the ongoing climate transformations in the Global South, which should be placed in an equal role with the Global North in the ocean science community.

✅One poster presentation with the title ‘An innovative and Integrated Framework and Assessing Ocean Compound Climate Risks in the Global Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs)”. Using four decades of observations, we developed an interdisciplinary framework showing that most EEZs now face higher compound climate risks, with regional differences driven by factors like deoxygenation or tropical cyclones. We are now preparing a tool to support coastal risk management and climate-resilient planning for fisheries, mariculture, and coastal communities worldwide.

For the first time, I co-convened a session, from drafting the call, reviewing abstracts, organizing the program, coordinating speakers, to handling unexpected on-site technical issues. It was a valuable opportunity to better understand the behind-the-scenes work that makes a scientific session successful.

As an early career scientist, I was not only about presenting results, but also about building scientific communities. I also reconnected with colleagues, met new potential collaborators, initiated discussions on potential joint work, and even had the chance to provide feedbacks and suggestions to several posters. I also gained useful insights into evolving journal practices and publication expectations.