The U.S. National Committee is composed of experts selected by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (the Academies) for their expertise in issues of relevance to the UN Ocean Decade. Most of the members are concurrently members of the Ocean Studies Board, a body composed to advise the Academies on ocean science, policies, and infrastructure.

The U.S. National Committee catalyzes and promotes the development of promising ocean science programs in the U.S. and represents the U.S. during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development's international efforts. The committee neither submits nor endorses UN Ocean Decade programs, projects, or activities.

The U.S. National Committee serves as the coordination and communication center for U.S. activities in support of the Ocean Decade. The U.S. National Committee engages the U.S. ocean community and facilitates development of initiatives that will advance science in support of UN Ocean Decade Outcomes. The committee is recognized by the UN Ocean Decade as the official National Decade Committee for the U.S. and participants in various Decade events in this capacity.

U.S. organizations are encouraged to participate in the Decade by joining the Ocean Decade U.S. Nexus. Nexus membership is for established organizations with a U.S. presence. A Nexus organization shares and helps communicate news about U.S. efforts related to the Decade. To apply to become a Nexus member, please apply here.

To get involved and stay informed, follow the Ocean Decade Events Calendar for Ocean Decade-related events from Nexus members, the UN, the U.S. National Committee, and other related entities. You can also subscribe to the U.S. National Committee mailing list. Early career natural scientists, social scientists, engineers, resource managers, and policy specialists are encouraged to apply for a position as an Early Career Liaison to join and contribute to committee meetings and help disseminate information about U.S. efforts during the Decade.

Ocean Shots are a call for ambitious, transformational research concepts that are interdisciplinary and fundamentally advance U.S. ocean science for sustainable development. The goal of Ocean-Shots is to create innovative science that will advance progress toward the UN Ocean Decade goals. Ocean-Shots will stimulate cross-disciplinary communication and lead to the science we need for the ocean we want.

Ocean Decade U.S. Nexus organizations commit to helping share and communicate news about U.S. efforts related to the Decade.  Nexus organizations:

• receive regular updates on the work of the U.S. National Committee for the Decade

• may receive communications tools about the Decade’s activities; and

• may be referenced on the Ocean Decade US website

• submit their own announcements for posting on the Ocean Decade US website

• share announcements from the U.S. National Committee for the Decade with their audiences 

• support the Ocean Decade US social media and public engagement campaigns;

• attend meetings hosted by the U.S. National Committee for the Decade

• Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS)

• AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles

• American Geophysical Union (AGU)

• Asian Marine Conservation Association

• Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography

• B2B North Atlantic-Arctic Ocean Science Initiative

• Blue Climate Initiative

• Blue Water Entertainment, Inc.

• California Ocean Science Trust

• CAREM

• Center for Ocean Leadership

• College of Exploration

• Conservacion ConCiencia

• Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri)

• Exocetus Autonomous Systems

• Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Center (FCOLC)

• Fugro USA Marine, Inc.

• Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation

• Heirs To Our Oceans

• Herring Gut Coastal Science Center

• IOOS Association

• International Ocean Science and Technology Industry Association

• Kemper Engineering Services

• Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii at Manoa

• Lionfish University

• Manna Fish Farms, Inc.

• Marine Technology Society

• Maryland Sea Grant

• Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute

• Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA)

• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

• Mystic Aquarium

• National Marine Educators Association

• National Ocean Policy Coalition

• National Ocean Protection Coalition

• NOAA Teacher At Sea Program

• North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA)

• North Pacific Research Board (NPRB)

• Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS)

• Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS)

• OceanForesters

• Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry (OCB)

• Ocean Conservancy

• Ocean Exploration Trust

• Ocean Memory Project

• Ocean Obs Research Coordination Network (OceanObs RCN)

• Ocean Observatories Initiative

• Ocean Rescue Alliance

• Ocean River Institute

• Ocean STL Consulting

• Ocean Visions

• Pacific Marine Mammal Center

• Peace Boat US

• PICES

• Proteus Ocean Group

• Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)

• Reef Life Foundation

• Rutgers University

• Saildrone

• Science for Decisions LLC

• Shoals Marine Laboratory

• Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA)

• Spiral Pacific

• Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions

• Sustainable Ocean Alliance

• TAO

• Tetiaroa Society

• The Crane Project

• The Marine Mammal Center

• The Nature Conservancy

• The Ocean Agency

• The Ocean Foundation

• The Oceanography Society

• The World Federation for Coral Reed Conservation

• TMA BlueTech

• University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program

• University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

• University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

• U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System, USDOT

• US CLIVAR Program

• U.S. Science Support Program

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

• Youth Making Ripples