Sea-Bird Scientific was excited to participate as a principal organizing entity at the 2026 TIDES Conference - where non-profit, government, industry, and academia - including graduate and undergraduate students - came together to discuss the latest in ocean science in the Pacific Northwest.
The TIDES Conference 2026 marked the inaugural convening of a Pacific Northwest–based community focused on advancing ocean and water solutions through collaboration with 138 attendees from government, academia, industry, including students - both graduate and undergraduate. Sea-Bird Scientific led strategy and execution alongside key regional partners including the University of Washington, Sequoia Scientific, Biosonics, Inc., and the Marine Technology Society (Puget Sound Section). Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and a student poster session, TIDES created space for meaningful dialogue around shared stewardship of our oceans and waterways.
Unlike a traditional tradeshow or single-organization event, TIDES was intentionally designed as a community-led conference. The program centered on three core themes - Ocean Science in the PNW, Ocean Decarbonization, and Sensors & Platforms - and became an endorsed UN Ocean Decade Activity, aligning local action with global ocean priorities.
TIDES 2026 demonstrated the power of cross-sector partnership and place-based engagement to drive progress in water and ocean science. By convening diverse perspectives and centering collaboration, the conference reinforced a shared commitment to innovation, data-driven decision-making, and long-term environmental stewardship. Plans are already underway to build on this momentum and continue growing the TIDES community in the years ahead.
We look forward to planning the next TIDES event to further ocean science in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about TIDES here.
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