On the initial two days of the conference (May 3-4, 2010), at the Policy, Science, and Technical Symposium, plenary and concurrent panels will explore the major themes and topics of the conference through presentations and discussions.

The Symposium will be organized under the direction of the International Program Committee, with active participation by the Global ForumWorking Groups, and open to the input and presentations from other participants.

During the Symposium, a SpecialWorkshop will be held on Fifty Years of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission: International Cooperation on the Marine Natural and Social Sciences —Looking Ahead to Meeting the Challenges of the Next Fifty Years.

Policy, Science and Technical Symposium (May 3-4, 2010) :

•    List of Accepted Sessions  
•    Structure of Symposium

Global Forum Working Groups and Symposium leaders will prepare, before the conference, Policy Briefs and bottom-line recommendations on each theme and topic for consideration by the High-Level National Officials Roundtable, The Ocean Parliamentarians, and the Network of Local and Regional Authorities.

The High-Level National Officials Roundtable, The Ocean Parliamentarians, and the Network of Local and Regional Authorities will meet on May 5 for their separate deliberations.

The Policy Conference: Charting the Way Ahead, held on May 6 and 7, will feature plenary panels on the major conference themes and topics, and will chart the way ahead for the international oceans community. High-level representatives from all sectors (governments, NGOs, international agencies, private industry, and scientific groups) will be invited to speak in the Policy Conference plenary panels.

•    Draft Structure of Policy Conference