Register and Attend
Travel
There are several options for traveling to New Orleans for OSM24. New Orleans is served by one major airport which offers multiple U.S. and international flights daily, as well as a train station. Explore different travel options and directions for getting to the meeting and around the city.
Airport
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is 20 miles from downtown the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. It was awarded the Best Airport in North America two years in a row by the Airports Council International. MSY provides service from more than 15 airlines, national and international, and over 50 nonstop connections.
Train
Amtrak offers an energy efficient travel options to New Orleans. Amtrak trains are accessible from a number of cities across the country.
Bus
Greyhound offers an efficient way to access New Orleans from numerous U.S. cities.
Car
If you plan to drive to New Orleans, the convention center provides information on a number of nearby parking garages.
Getting Around New Orleans
New Orleans has many options for getting around the city including bike share, pedicabs, and streetcars.
Visa & International Travel
We recommend that international participants apply for visas three months prior to OSM24 (roughly by 15 November 2023). 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 or you will not be 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 the 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 carrier destined for the United States.
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.
Visit the Business Visa Center
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.
Learn more about the Visa Waiver Program
U.S. Department of State
Comprehensive information about traveling to the United States, and the policies and procedures for obtaining a visa.
Learn more about Obtaining a Visa
Visa Appointments
OSM has registered OSM24 with the U.S. Department of State to assist with visa appointments. All scientists with accepted abstracts should have received an invitation letter as part of their documentation to help with the visa process. If you did not submit an abstract and need assistance obtaining an invitation letter, please contact the Member Services Team.
After applying for a visa appointment, the next potential step to help with your visa process is to contact the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine International Visitor Office (IVO). They often assist scientists with expediting the visa process to get appointments moved.
Scientists who have been accepted as speakers or attendees for OSM24 may request help from IVO to expedite the visa process by completing the Visa Questionnaire on their site. This questionnaire should be completed after you have already reserved a visa appointment in your country. An already established visa-appointment is crucial to working with the IVO, even if that appointment is in 2024.
Because of the personal information the IVO needs to move forward with requests, OSM staff or volunteer leadership are unable to make a visa request on behalf of a scientist. The IVO has provided a checklist to help you prepare for their Visa Questionnaire needs.
Travel Grants
OSM Travel Grants provide funds to assist students and early career professionals with a combination of costs associated with attending OSM24. In-person attendees receive $1,000 USD toward the cost of registration and travel expenses.
The travel grant application window is now closed. Applications for the 2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting were open 20 September - 25 October 2023.
Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be the first author and presenting a paper or poster at the Ocean Sciences Meeting,
- Be a member of AGU, ASLO, or TOS,
- Show financial ability to attend the Ocean Sciences Meeting in addition to Travel Grant funds
- Have successfully submitted an abstract prior to filling out your travel grant application. You must include your abstract reference number on the application.
There are three grant types available:
- Student Travel Grant: Be an enrolled high school student, two- or four-year undergraduate student, or graduate student at an accredited academic institution at the time of the Ocean Sciences Meeting,
- Berkner Fellowship: Be under the age of 35 and a citizen of a country designated by the World Bank as “low” or “lower-middle” income per capita at the time of the Ocean Sciences meeting, or
- Early Career Travel Grant: Be an early career professional (less than 10 years from receiving terminal degree) at the time of the Ocean Sciences Meeting.
Evaluation
Applicants are reviewed and ranked based on the following criteria:
- Demographic backgrounds historically marginalized in the ocean sciences
- Demonstrated financial need
- Applicants who have never attended a scientific conference
- Student applicants in the final year of their degree program
Health & Safety
American Geophysical Union (AGU), the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) and The Oceanography Society (TOS) are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all Ocean Sciences Meeting participants and staff. We continue to monitor health and safety issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other communicable diseases and follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as they are released.
OSM strongly encourages all attendees to be up-to-date on all vaccinations. OSM will not require documentation of COVID-19 vaccination in order to attend the meeting. However, we will reconsider implementing this requirement if conditions and guidance from health professionals change.
Masking guidelines will be assessed prior to the meeting dates. Masks will be available onsite for attendees upon request and those who wish to wear masks are encouraged to do so.