Plan your meeting |Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020

Plan your meeting

Learn about registration policies and rates, and check out travel and housing information to make the most of your time in San Diego.

Registration rates
Attendee information and policies

Register today

Attendee registration

Exhibitor registration

Registration rates

Registration Type	By 8 January	9 January through 15 February	16 February through 21 February
AGU, ASLO, TOS MEMBER
Regular: Full Meeting	$525	$660	$720
Regular: One Day	$465	$500	$500
Student: Full Meeting	$380	$525	$575
Student: One Day	$245	$270	$275
Early Career: Full Meeting	$465	$600	$660
Early Career: One Day	$415	$440	$440
NONMEMBER
Full Meeting	$635	$770	$830
One Day	$575	$600	$635
Student: Full Meeting	$440	$575	$635
Student: One Day	$355	$380	$390
Early Career: Full Meeting	$555	$715	$790
Early Career: One Day	$495	$525	$530
OTHER CATEGORIES (MEMBER/NONMEMBER)
Emeritus/Retiree: Full Meeting	$270	$415	$465
Emeritus/Retiree: One Day	$135	$160	$170
High School Student: Full Meeting	$195	$330	$415
High School Student: One Day	-	-	-
High School Teacher: Full Meeting	$195	$330	$415
High School Teacher: One Day	-	-	-
Developing Country Professional: Full Meeting	$245	$245	$245
Developing Country Student: Full Meeting	$245	$245	$245
Guests (non-scientists)	$80	$105	$130
Media	-	-	-

Attendee information and policies

Read through our information and policies related to attending the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020. We also encourage you to visit our frequently asked questions for more information.

Attendees from developing countries

Discounted registration rates are available to attendees from countries classified by the World Bank as low-income and lower-middle-income economies. These income classifications are updated each year on 1 July. Please refer to the World Bank’s website for information on their classification system and for the latest list of low-income and lower-middle-income countries. Note: Attendees must currently reside in a low-income or lower-middle-income country in order to be eligible to receive the registration rate.

U.S. federal government employees

If you have not received government approval to travel to the Ocean Sciences Meeting, please read the following for U. S. federal government employees only:

Important: If you are not able to attend and do not want to withdraw your presentation, please encourage a co-author to present on your behalf. Presenter changes can be submitted to the scientific program team.
Early registration rates will be extended throughout the Ocean Sciences Meeting.

Child care for attendees

Subsidized child care will be available to attendees. The online registration tool will be available in late August.

Caretakers/ADA needs

AGU, ASLO and TOS welcome those who assist others in need during the Ocean Sciences Meeting. Caretakers are individuals who are at the meeting to assist with child care or those with ADA needs. Individuals may register for free in the Hall D lobby; valid identification is required.

Guest Policy

A guest is a spouse, friend, or adult child (18 years old and older) who is not working in a marine sciences-related occupation or field. A colleague or associate working in a related marine sciences field or studying marine sciences in school may not be registered and attend as a guest. Registered guests may not attend the scientific sessions; however, they may visit the Exhibit Hall, attend the Opening Reception, and all keynote lectures. Guests may purchase tickets to social events at the advertised rates.

	By 8 January	9 January – 15 February	After 15 February
Guest Registration Fee	$80.00 USD	$105.00 USD	$130.00 USD

Substitution Policy

Substitutions are allowed at any time but must be requested in writing by the original registrant and emailed to OSM registration staff. Partial substitutions are not allowed. Registrants must transfer their entire registration to a new person, not just a portion. Member rates and promotional rates are not transferable from the original registrant to the substitute. No refunds will be issued for cancelled registrations or ticketed events after 29 January 2020.

Cancellation Policy

Written notification must be emailed to OSM registration staff. Registrations cancellations received by 22 January 2020 will receive a complete refund. Cancellations received between 23-29 January 2020 will incur a $50 processing fee deducted from their refund. No refunds will be issued for cancelled registrations or ticketed events after 29 January 2020. Refund exception requests must be requested in writing by 21 April 2020.

Getting to and around San Diego

San Diego is served by the San Diego International Airport which offers multiple U.S. and international flights daily, a train station, and local transportation options including a trolley and bus system. Explore the available transportation methods.

1

By air: San Diego International Airport is just three miles from the San Diego Convention Center. The airport is accessible to downtown San Diego via train, bus, and trolley. Taxis, ride shares, and rental cars are also available.
2

By train: Amtrak offers train service to the Santa Fe Depot Station located in downtown San Diego. The station is conveniently located within walking distance of the convention center.
3

By public transportation: San Diego has a robust public transportation system which includes the city bus and trolley, which serve many popular locations throughout the city. Day passes are available for unlimited rides at a low cost.
4

By car: San Diego offers many popular ride-share services as well as taxis for traveling around the city. If you choose to drive to or around San Diego, parking is available at the Convention Center.

Travel discounts

We are pleased to partner with United Airlines for air travel to the Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020. To receive the discount, visit the United Airlines website and enter ZH2A515963 in the Offer Code box. You may also call the United Meeting Reservation Desk at +1 800.426.1122. International customers should contact their local United Reservation Desk. U.S. hours are:

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Eastern time
Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Eastern time

Booking fees are waived for meeting reservations.

Aurora borealis over the lake in the evening

Visa and international travel information

We strongly recommend that international participants apply for visas at least three months prior to the meeting. Some consulates may have delays in scheduling visa interviews. We encourage you to first contact the consulate to determine the wait time for an interview. If you require a letter of invitation before submitting an abstract, you must request one via email. After submitting an abstract, you can automatically generate a letter of invitation through the abstract submission system.

U.S. Government requirement for Visa Waiver Program

Effective 20 January 2011, citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries will be unable to enter the United States without Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval from the U.S. Government. VWP travelers who have not obtained approval through ESTA will be denied boarding on any air carrier destined for the United States.

Resources

Business Visa Center – The U.S. Department of State offers resources and information to assist foreign nationals traveling to the U.S for temporary business.
Visa Waiver Program – Review the requirements to participate in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens meeting specific requirements to enter the U.S. for 90 days without a visa.
U.S. Department of State – Comprehensive information about traveling to the United States, and the policies and procedures for obtaining a visa.
National Academies International Visitors Office (IVO) – The IVO has additional information about visa-related issues and travel information for U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens.

Travel and research grants and scholarships

Through travel grants and fellowships, AGU, ASLO and TOS help promote the professional development of the next generation of ocean scientists and enable the next era of scientific discoveries. These programs provide the opportunity for scientists to participate in career-building activities early in their careers.

We offer travel grants for students planning to attend Ocean Sciences Meeting. The program provides financial assistance to U.S. and international early career scientists and students who have little or no support from research contracts or grants, and who are presenting for the first time at a conference. The travel grants and fellowships provide the support necessary for students and early career scientists to complete research and advance their education and careers.

The application deadlines for the Ocean Sciences Meeting Student Travel Grants, Early Career Travel Grants, and Berkner Fellowships are 18 September.

Ocean Sciences Meeting travel grants

Students and early career scientists, learn what funding opportunities exist to help you attend the meeting.

Learn More

housing rates

Housing is now open! Book through our official housing company, SPARGO to receive the room rates below.

BOOK TODAY

U.S. government per diem rates, which require valid U.S. government identification, are offered by the hotels marked with an asterisk, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.The nightly rates are for single and double rooms, however, most hotels offer larger room rates available during reservation. Download a PDF map of Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020 hotel locations.

Hotel	Address	Nightly rates	Distance from Convention Center
Bristol Hotel*	1055 First Avenue	$245	0.7 miles away
Embassy Suites*	601 Pacific Highway	$274	0.7 miles away
Hard Rock Hotel*	207 Fifth Avenue	$279	0.5 miles away
Hilton San Diego Bayfront	One Park Boulevard	$299	0.5 miles away
Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter*	401 K Street	$269	0.4 miles away
Horton Grand Hotel*	311 Island Avenue	$199	0.4 miles away
Manchester Grand Hyatt*	1 Market Place	$285	0.4 miles away
Omni San Diego	675 L Street	$289	0.6 miles away
Porto Vista Hotel & Suites*	1835 Columbia Street	$162	1.4 miles away
San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter*	660 K Street	$279	0.5 miles away
San Diego Marriott Marquis*	333 W. Harbor Drive	$289	0.2 miles away
Sofia Hotel	150 West Broadway	$218	0.7 miles away
Westin Gaslamp Quarter	910 Broadway Circle	$229	0.6 miles away
Wyndham San Diego Bayside*	1355 N. Harbor Drive	$199	1.2 miles away

Special notice: Housing companies

AGU does not sell your information. If you are contacted by any company other than SPARGO offering housing in San Diego, please note that these companies are not authorized to represent AGU, ASLO, or TOS. They do not have access to officially contracted Ocean Sciences Meeting 2020 room blocks or rates in San Diego.

These unauthorized companies often don’t deliver on promises to customers. When customers arrive, reservations are non-existent, or the hotels are not conveniently located. Sometimes, the rooms have been cancelled and hefty cancellation fees have been placed on the customer’s credit card.

We encourage you to book through SPARGO, our official housing vendor.