Pacific Northwest Waters: Gateway to Our Future

The 5th Interagency Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC) Industry Workshop, 2012

Keynote speaker Ms. Laura Furgione, Deputy Administrator, NOAA's National Weather

icon of a videocam Keynote speaker Laura Furgione, Deputy Assistant Administrator, NOAA's National Weather Service

Microsoft Research sponsored the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Systems (NANOOS) Industry Day on February 2 and 3, 2012, at Microsoft’s Research Campus in Redmond Washington. 

The event was kicked off with a Keynote Address by Laura Furgione, Deputy Assistant Administrator of NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS), which highlighted how the Integrated Ocean Observing System’s (IOOS) data and information supports the development of NWS products and services. "None of us can achieve a Weather-Ready Nation alone, and this fact underscores the value of collaboration and partnership.  Private sector research and innovation, investments in new technologies by research institutions, add value to our work. A Weather-Ready Nation requires regionally scaled and user-driven collaborations in observations, data delivery, and product development—all things that NOAA relies on the regional IOOS system operators and their extensive stakeholder communities to provide," Furgione said.

Dave Martin, NANOOS Board Chair.

icon of a videocam Dave Martin, NANOOS Board Chair

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Zdenka Willis, U.S. IOOS Program Director, and Jenifer Rhoades, U.S. IOOS Program Regional Program Analyst, attended the event.  More than 150 stakeholders and partners attended the meeting, which focused on the importance of NANOOS measurements and observations and their benefit to local, regional, national, and international safety, economic and environmental benefits. 

Dave Martin, NANOOS Board Chair, set the stage for the day by providing an overview of the importance of IOOS measurements and observations in delivering safety, economic and environmental benefits.

Jan Newton, NANOOS Executive Director

icon of a videocam Jan Newton, NANOOS Executive Director

“NANOOS doesn’t want to re-invent, we want to be the glue that adds capabilities to deliver services and information to a diversity of stakeholders in the Pacific Northwest,” said Jan Newton, NANOOS Executive Director during her opening address.  Panel sessions described the application of marine information in generating forecasts of hazards unique to the Pacific Northwest, supporting decision making including coastal engineering, hazard response, marine operations, fishery management, and alternative energy. 

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Jonathan Allen, NANOOS User Products Committee Chair described how NANOOS delivers information and products to users via the NANOOS web portal.

Jonathan Allen, NANOOS User Products Committee Chair

icon of a videocam Jonathan Allen, NANOOS User Products Committee Chair

An aquaculture panel provided in-depth information on how ocean measurements and observations support the aquaculture industry.  This panel included representatives from Whiskey Creek Oyster Hatchery, Taylor Shellfish, and the Pacific Shellfish Institute who described how NANOOS data is helping improve oyster harvesting in the Region.

During the second day, Microsoft Research presented a summary of their recent work on the development of the ‘Eye on Earth’ (http://watch.eyeonearth.org) portal for public delivery of environmental data and the incorporation of data from citizen observing networks.  NANOOS also held a strategic discussion to formulate achievable outcomes for the Region including: optimum integration of Pacific Northwest regional observing efforts, supporting the needs of Federal IOOS partners, and marketing NANOOS to stakeholders. 

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Videos and Presentations:

Keynote Speaker Laura Furgione, Deputy Assistant Administrator, NOAA's National Weather Service
Dave Martin, NANOOS Board Chair
Jan Newton, NANOOS Executive Director
Jonathan Allen, NANOOS User Products Committee Chair


Additional Information: