Overview
This workshop will discuss opportunities and challenges in the development of affordable ocean-observing technologies. Recent advances in microcontrollers, low-cost sensors, and related technologies have made it possible to create scalable environmental monitoring systems at significantly lower cost. However, adapting these tools for reliable use in marine environments presents a range of technical challenges.
The workshop convenes experts in ocean instrumentation, sensor development, embedded systems, and related engineering disciplines. The emphasis is on presentations, discussion, and demonstrations of prototype systems, with the goal of exchanging ideas, fostering new collaborations, and identifying future research directions.
Dates & Venue
Venue: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA. Demonstrations and facility tours will be hosted at WHOI's DeepTech facility.
Main Workshop
October 19–22, 2026
Monday–Thursday. Invited presentations, lightning talks, panel discussions, demonstrations, and breakout discussions.
Optional Hands-On Development Session
October 23 & 26–28, 2026
Friday, then Monday–Wednesday. An engineering-focused session where participants work directly with components to build open-source, low-cost instruments, with time for testing and demonstrations.
Registration
Please register in advance so we can plan meals, space, and demonstrations. The form asks which portion you plan to attend: the main workshop, the hands-on session, or both.
Non-U.S. participants: WHOI requires some additional visitor information. After registering, please also complete the foreign visitor information form.
Agenda
The agenda is still being finalized. Speakers, session chairs, and logistics details will be added as they are confirmed.
Workshop Themes
- Emerging opportunities in low-cost sensing
- Physical oceanography and marine meteorology sensors
- Environmental sensors
- Mechanical design and marine hardening
- Manufacturing, calibration, and quality assurance
- Demonstrations
- Breakout discussions
- Future collaborations
Funders
This workshop is made possible with generous support from Schmidt Sciences and the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR).
Contact
J. Thomas Farrar
Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
jfarrar@whoi.edu
+1 508-289-2691