OCEANS 2000: Premier Event Showcasing the Most Advanced Undersea Technology to Convene in Providence.

Business Editors

Oceans 2000

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 6, 2000

Emphasizing southern New England's position as an epicenter for oceanographic research and industry, organizers of Oceans 2000 have announced that their year 2000 show will take place at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence from September 11th to September 14th. A gathering of some 3,000 people, representing 20 scientific institutions and 300 marine technology firms, many located within 90 miles of Providence, is expected to attend.

The conference will feature more than 300 innovative technical presentations on topics such as: monitoring equipment for sea level rise and tsunami (tidal wave) detection; using acoustic signals for wireless communications underwater; water quality monitoring and the commercial use of completely autonomous undersea robots to assist scientists and engineers in learning more about the marine environment.

Keynote speakers at the September 12th plenary session (8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) will include Rear Admiral Dick West, Oceanographer of the U.S. Navy, and Dr. John Sirmalis, Technical Director of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, Rhode Island.

Throughout the three days of the event, and in addition to the conference sessions, there will be an extensive exhibition of ocean technology with over 170 individual ocean-related companies and institutions displaying and demonstrating their state-of-the-art products in the convention center hall.

Another important feature of Oceans 2000 will be the 3rd Ocean Technology Job Fair that will take place from September 12th to the 14th. This event within an event is being organized to meet the growing work force needs of the ocean industry. "We like all other sectors of the US economy are in need of skilled labor. This job fair will help get the word out to the region that there are great jobs available right here in New England," said Maggie Merrill, Director of the Massachusetts Ocean Technology Network, one of the co-sponsoring organizations. Additional sponsors of the job fair are the University of Rhode Island's Ocean Engineering Department and the New England section of the Marine Technology Society. The fair is sure to draw a large number of job-seekers from the many colleges and universities in the area. Mid-career job seekers will be in attendance as well. Hours of the job fair are: Tuesday, Sept. 12 (10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.), Wednesday, Sept. 13 (9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.), Thursday, Sept. 14 (9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) Students with valid identification can visit the exhibit hall and participate in the job fair for free. Check out the job fair web site at www.oce.uri.edu/Oceans20000.

Oceans 2000 MTS/IEEE is an annual event that alternates between the east and west coasts of the United States. It is sponsored by the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and it is championed by the local marine science, engineering and manufacturing community.

For information on all aspects of Oceans 2000, phone J. Spargo and Associates at [phone], fax them at [phone], or visit the Oceans 2000 web site at www.oceans2000.com. Press are welcome to attend free of charge with credentials.

For press information: [phone], [e-mail].