Have you conducted innovative research that you would like to present to a broader audience?

OCEANS 2026 Monterey invites the global ocean science and engineering community to contribute to a dynamic and forward-looking technical program. We welcome submissions for technical abstracts, workshops, tutorials, and town halls that advance research, foster collaboration, and address the critical challenges shaping the future of our ocean domain. Whether presenting original research, leading an interactive workshop, delivering an in-depth tutorial, or convening a strategic discussion, your contribution helps define the direction of our community. Please review the full call below for detailed submission guidelines, formats, and requirements.

Call for Abstracts

Abstracts and full technical papers must fall under one of the technical session topics for this year’s event.

The Call for Abstracts will be open to abstracts in the following categories:

OCEANS 2026 Monterey offers three submission tracks:

  1. Regular Technical Program (Abstract + Full Paper + Oral or Poster Presentation)
  2. General Poster Track (Abstract + Poster Presentation Only)
  3. Student Poster Competition (Abstract + Full Paper + Poster + Judging)

All submissions are handled through PaperCept/PaperPlaza.

Create a new PIN or log into your PaperCept account and select OCEANS 2026 Monterey. Please note that PINs from other servers are not allowed here, and you will need a new one.

Abstract Submission Portal

Deadline for Abstract Submission: May 4, 2026

Regular Technical Program

Abstract + Full Paper + Oral or Poster Presentation

The flagship technical track for fully developed research, validated systems, and rigorous studies advancing ocean engineering practice.

Submission Process
  • Abstract submission (peer reviewed)
  • Accepted abstracts require a full conference paper
  • Presentation format selected by the Technical Committee
Publication & Requirements
  • Presented papers published in IEEE Xplore® (subject to IEEE requirements)
  • Must comply with IEEE formatting and copyright policies
  • At least one author must register and present
  • Each accepted paper requires a full conference registration
  • Papers not presented will not be submitted to IEEE Xplore®
Ideal For
  • Original research with validated results
  • Fully developed systems or technologies
  • Rigorous experimental or field studies
  • Novel methods with demonstrated performance
  • Interdisciplinary work advancing ocean engineering practice

General Poster Track

Abstract + Poster Presentation Only

An opportunity to present emerging work, applied projects, operational experiences, and late-breaking developments.

Submission Process
  • Abstract submission only (no full paper required)
  • Peer reviewed for acceptance
  • Accepted authors present during designated poster sessions
Important
  • Not eligible for publication in IEEE Xplore®
  • Posters displayed for one day with assigned presentation windows
Ideal For
  • Early-stage research
  • Industry case studies
  • Technology demonstrations
  • Field campaign results
  • Student projects not entering competition

Student Poster Competition

Recognizing Outstanding Student Research

Celebrating excellence in undergraduate and graduate research at OCEANS 2026 Monterey.

Eligibility
  • Open to undergraduate and graduate students
  • Student must be lead author and presenter
  • Work must be original
Submission Process
  • Submit abstract via PaperCept under Student Poster Competition track
  • Indicate student status during submission
  • Accepted students present during the conference
Publication & Evaluation
  • Eligible for IEEE Xplore® publication (subject to IEEE requirements)
  • Financial support available for presenting students
  • Judged on technical merit, originality, clarity, and impact
  • Awards presented during the conference

Abstract Submission Portal

Deadline for Abstract Submission: May 4, 2026

Guidelines on the Use of AI

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Submit an abstract summarizing:

  • Problem statement
  • Approach and methodology
  • Key results (if available)
  • Relevance to the OCEANS community

Abstracts are peer reviewed for acceptance.

  • All abstracts must be submitted in PDF format and must be created by the author (co-authors are allowed).
  • US Letter, English language
  • 500-word minimum; 1000-word maximum; 2-page maximum – inclusive of text, graphics, and references.
  • Please include at the top of the abstract the name of the principal author, the institute or affiliation the paper represents, and the title of the paper. We recommend using the IEEE conference template.
  • Please note that the initial submission requires two items: a short abstract/summary (portal entry for indexing and initial processing, max 2250 characters) and an extended abstract (2-page PDF upload). Both must be submitted at the time of submission.
  • The originally-submitted abstract cannot be used as a substitute for the conference paper. Please note that abstract PDFs do not need to be converted through the IEEE Xplore PDF eXpress service.
  • Authors of accepted papers (regular and student poster competition) are expected to prepare and submit a conference paper (4 to 6 pages) for the conference proceedings (additional instructions will be provided at that time) and publish in IEEE Xplore®, subject to IEEE requirements.

Technical Scope

We welcome original contributions across the full spectrum of ocean engineering and marine technology. Please check out the technical track with all the topics available. OCEANS 2026 Monterey reserves the right to modify session formats, merge sessions, or adjust presentation types across all tracks based on submission volume and program balance.

Call for Workshops and Tutorials Proposals

OCEANS 2026 Monterey invites proposals for Workshops and Tutorials to be held on Monday, September 21, before the technical session.

Organized by the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (IEEE OES) OCEANS is the premier forum for ocean science and engineering. Workshops and tutorials provide focused venues for emerging topics, in-depth technical instruction, and community building across academia, industry, and government.

This is the first year OCEANS is adopting a structured proposal format for workshops and tutorials. We encourage innovative, forward-looking, and interactive proposals.

Objectives

Workshops and tutorials should:

  • Address emerging or rapidly developing topics
  • Foster technical depth and interactive engagement
  • Bridge research, engineering practice, and operational experience
  • Support interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Align with OCEANS 2026 Monterey technical themes

Panels are not included in this call; panel-style discussions will be handled separately under the Town Hall program.

Workshop Proposals

Workshops are interactive sessions focused on research frontiers, technical challenges, community coordination, standards development, or roadmap discussions.

Format
  • Half-day or full-day
  • May include invited talks, contributed presentations, breakout discussions, and collaborative working sessions
  • Can include student presentations and posters
  • Should emphasize active participation
Proposal Requirements

Submit a single PDF (maximum 3 pages) including:

  • Workshop Title
  • Organizers
  • Names, affiliations, short bios (limited to 100 words each)
  • Motivation and Objectives (why the topic is timely and relevant to OCEANS)
  • Proposed Format and Schedule
  • Target Audience
  • Preliminary List of Speakers (if available)
  • Expected Outcomes (e.g., community roadmap, follow-on collaborations, white paper)
  • Workshop Website Plan (each accepted workshop must maintain a dedicated website; indicate how/where it will be hosted)
  • Equipment Requirements (projector and screen provided; list any additional equipment organizers might be able to provide)

Tutorial Proposals

Tutorials are instructional sessions designed to provide structured, in-depth education on tools, methodologies, systems, or emerging technologies relevant to ocean science and engineering.

Format
  • Half-day or full day
  • Clear learning objectives
  • May include demonstrations or hands-on components
Proposal Requirements

Submit a single PDF (maximum 3 pages) including:

  • Tutorial Title
  • Instructors
  • Names, affiliations, short bios
  • Topic Description and Learning Objectives
  • Intended Audience and Prerequisites
  • Outline of Content
  • Instructional Approach (lecture, demonstrations, hands-on exercises, and software tools)
  • Relevance to the OCEANS Community
  • Tutorial Website Plan (each accepted tutorial must maintain a dedicated website)
  • Equipment Requirements (projector and screen provided; list any additional equipment organizers might be able to provide)
  • (Optional) Attendee Requirements (equipment or software attendees must bring or install in advance)

Submission Instructions

All proposals must be submitted electronically via PaperCept:

Select OCEANS 2026 Monterey – Town Hall Proposal from the conference list.

Workshop and Tutorials Proposals Deadline: May 11, 2026

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

  • Relevance and timeliness
  • Technical quality
  • Community interest and impact
  • Feasibility and clarity of organization
  • Diversity of organizers and speakers
  • Alignment with OCEANS themes

The Technical Program Committee may work with organizers to refine scope, duration, or structure. At least one organizer of each accepted workshop or tutorial must register for the conference and attend the event.

We look forward to proposals that expand the technical depth, educational value, and collaborative impact of OCEANS 2026 Monterey.

Call for Town Halls and Panels Proposals

OCEANS 2026 Monterey invites proposals for Town Halls and Panel Sessions addressing timely issues in ocean science, engineering, technology, policy, and industry. These sessions are designed to stimulate forward-looking discussion, cross-sector dialogue, and community engagement beyond traditional technical paper presentations.

Purpose of Town Halls and Panels

Town Hall and Panels sessions are intended to:

  • Facilitate open discussion on issues of broad community interest
  • Gather stakeholder input on emerging priorities or standards
  • Explore cross-sector collaboration opportunities
  • Connect academia, industry, government, and nonprofits
  • Identify community needs, roadmaps, or future initiatives

Town Halls may include short introductory remarks, but should prioritize moderated discussion and audience engagement. Panels are moderated sessions featuring 3–5 invited experts who provide diverse perspectives on a focused topic, followed by audience Q&A. Avoid product marketing or commercial promotion.

Suggested Topics

Proposals are encouraged in areas such as:

Ocean Data Policy, Governance & Sovereignty

Data ownership, open access models, geopolitical implications, and AI-driven data ecosystems.

Standards & Interoperability

Open architectures, scalable systems integration, and industry–academia alignment on technical standards.

AI in Ocean Science & Engineering

Transformative opportunities, risk and reliability, human oversight, and operational implications of autonomy at scale.

Large-Scale Mapping & Observing

Persistent autonomy, basin-scale monitoring, funding models, and coordination of global infrastructure.

Blue Economy Strategy

Cross-sector collaboration, sustainability frameworks, commercialization pathways, and long-term impact.

Public–Private Partnerships & Dual-Use Technology

Technology transition, civil–defense intersections, and international collaboration challenges.

Workforce & Talent Development

Future skillsets, interdisciplinary training, and aligning education with emerging technologies.

Shared Infrastructure & Test Facilities

National testbeds, validation standards, cost-sharing models, and collaborative platforms.

Provocative or “Moonshot” Futures

  • The implications of unconstrained computing power
  • Fully autonomous ocean monitoring systems
  • Governance and regulation of AI-driven ocean technologies
  • Rethinking funding and innovation models

Submission Instructions

All proposals must be submitted electronically via PaperCept:

Select OCEANS 2026 Monterey – Town Hall Proposal from the conference list.

Town Hall Proposals Deadline: July 20, 2026

Include the Following Information (2 pages maximum):

  1. Title
  2. Format (Town Hall or Panel)
  3. Organizer(s)
    • Names, affiliations, and contact information
  4. Motivation and Objectives
    • Why the topic is timely and relevant
  5. Proposed Format
    • Moderator(s), discussion structure, audience engagement plan
  6. Intended Audience
  7. Expected Outcomes
    • e.g., recommendations, roadmap discussion, community coordination
  8. Anticipated Participants or Stakeholder Groups (if known)
  9. Equipment Needs
    • A computer projector and a room will be provided
    • List any additional equipment requested
  10. Expected duration (typically 60–90 minutes)

Town Halls play an important role in shaping dialogue and advancing collaboration within the ocean community. We encourage proposals that foster constructive discussion and community engagement at OCEANS 2026 Monterey.

Present Your IEEE JOE Paper at OCEANS 2026 Monterey

The Authors of recently accepted or published papers in the IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering are invited to present their work at OCEANS 2026 Monterey.

Eligible papers (those accepted within 12 months before to the date of submission) can be submitted via the PaperPlaza transfer system as presentation-only contributions, without additional review. The deadline to transfer papers is 1 July 2026. Note that only the Corresponding Author can transfer the paper.

Accepted presenters will be included in the technical program. Authors must submit a preprint of the accepted version of their paper and register for the conference. A quick and easy way to obtain a preprint of the accepted paper is to download your author accepted manuscript from the IEEE Author Gateway, which will include the IEEE copyright and the required published DOI already stamped on the document for you.

The preprints will be shared with attendees in accordance with IEEE policies.

Note that only the Corresponding Author can transfer the paper.

The deadline to transfer papers is 1 July 2026.