Imagine my excitement when I received an official email saying, "On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it is my privilege to invite you to serve as a speaker at NOAA’s upcoming town hall at the Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM)...". This was like getting the golden ticket to Willy Wonka's factory, but for ocean geeks like me and the teams at Santa Cruz Works (SCW) and Scoot Science. We're the kids in the candy store of oceanographic research and blue tech, and this invite from NOAA is like the head candy maker saying, "Come show us what you've got."

The Deets

Santa Cruz Works (SCW) and Scoot Science, key players in the Santa Cruz tech scene, have been invited to speak at the esteemed annual National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conference. This significant invitation underscores their contributions to ocean science, environmental efforts, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem for planetary health.

The NOAA conference, part of the Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM), is scheduled for February 18-23, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. It will bring together a diverse group of experts, including entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and NOAA partners. The focus of the event is a town hall titled "Accelerating the Ocean Enterprise - How blue tech start-ups are partnering with universities and federal agencies to enhance community resilience to ocean change." This session aims to explore the collaborative efforts between academia, industry, and government in advancing ocean-related enterprises.

At the town hall, SCW will address three pivotal topics. The first is their support for entrepreneurs and small businesses in the blue tech sector, highlighting the guidance and resources they provide to nurture these ventures. Secondly, they will discuss common challenges faced by these entrepreneurs and strategies to overcome them. Lastly, SCW will emphasize the importance of partnerships with business accelerators and how these can benefit companies in the blue tech industry.

Scoot Science's involvement in the town hall is particularly notable as a successful example of these partnerships. Having participated in the second cohort of SCW's accelerator program, Scoot Science exemplifies the growth and impact possible through such collaborations. Their experience underscores the value of accelerator programs in fostering innovation and development in ocean science and technology.

Santa Cruz, home to SCW and Scoot Science, is strategically located at the top of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary, offering a unique advantage for blue tech startups and researchers. This location provides direct access to a diverse marine ecosystem, facilitating in-depth studies and innovations in marine preservation and ocean change.

The NOAA town hall is a crucial platform for discussing how various sectors can synergistically work to tackle oceanic challenges. For SCW and Scoot Science, it's an opportunity to demonstrate their achievements, share expertise, and explore new partnerships, contributing to their mission of promoting innovation in response to ocean change.

This event represents a convergence of commitment and passion toward understanding and protecting our oceans. It highlights the essential role of cross-sector collaboration in addressing environmental challenges. The insights and outcomes from this town hall are expected to significantly influence the trajectory of oceanic research and enterprise in the future.