The OceanX Summit 2026, held in Singapore, convened more than 750 participants, including 223 students and educators, to address a central question: how can ocean discovery be translated into lasting change? Over three days, leaders from ocean science, government, exploration, education, and conservation examined the roles of evidence, storytelling, and local leadership in shaping the ocean's future. The summit underscored that ocean knowledge holds its greatest value when it is shared, understood, and used.
Among the prominent voices were oceanographer Sylvia Earle, filmmaker and deep-sea explorer James Cameron, Jill Tiefenthaler of the National Geographic Society, and conservation leaders such as Titouan Bernicot of Coral Gardeners. Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong opened the event, and Minister for Education Desmond Lee highlighted the importance of ocean exploration in student learning. A key theme was the need to connect scientific discovery with policy and action, particularly as countries work to implement the BBNJ Agreement on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.
The summit showcased concrete examples of ocean science informing conservation. The Into the Deep: Monsoon Rise expedition, jointly led by OceanX and the National University of Singapore, mapped over 8,300 square kilometres of seafloor in the eastern Indian Ocean. Scientists from Southeast Asia and the Pacific collaborated with Singapore researchers, and approximately 2,000 specimens are now contributing to ongoing biodiversity research. OceanX has committed a significant share of its 2027 expedition time to high seas research, reinforcing its role in filling critical data gaps. Vincent Pieribone, OceanX's science chief, emphasized that science must work in collaboration with all stakeholders to support lasting ocean protection.
Education and storytelling emerged as powerful tools for building personal connections to the ocean. Through a partnership with Singapore's Ministry of Education and Science Centre Board, more than 570 students and educators have visited the OceanXplorer since 2024, with hundreds more joining ship-to-shore livestreams. The summit also featured over 20 immersive installations developed by OceanX Education and its Changemaker community, demonstrating how art, media, and technology can deepen understanding. A discussion between Mark Dalio and Anderson Tanoto of Tanoto Foundation highlighted education pathways across Southeast Asia, including scholarships and fellowships.
Local leadership was celebrated as a driving force for conservation. Coral Gardeners founder Titouan Bernicot described an island-led movement that now employs 97 full-time staff and has planted more than 250,000 corals across French Polynesia, Fiji, and Thailand. Other changemakers presented projects using AI for reef monitoring and immersive media to connect audiences with marine ecosystems. These examples reinforced the summit's message that local knowledge must shape conservation efforts and that communities need a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their ocean.
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