IAMSLIC 2025 Conference: Full Circle – A Virtual Perspective 

The 51st Annual IAMSLIC Conference took place from 5–10 October 2025, hosted in the picturesque setting of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and offered a truly hybrid experience—both in-person and online. The theme, ‘Full Circle,’ celebrated IAMSLIC’s rich 50-year history while embracing the future of global collaboration in marine science librarianship.

A Stunning Location and Warm Hospitality

For those fortunate enough to attend in person, Woods Hole provided an idyllic backdrop: a vibrant marine research hub surrounded by salt marshes, research vessels, and historic laboratories. Reports from attendees praised the banquet’s local seafood delights and the field trip’s coastal beauty and scientific insights—perfect complements to the conference’s intellectual feast.

Special thanks go to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) for their generous sponsorship and hosting. Their support ensured a seamless hybrid format that welcomed participants from across the globe.

Reflections from the Screen

As an online attendee, the experience was engaging and inclusive. Interactive features - live Q&A, breakout rooms, and chat forums—fostered networking and lively discussion, proving that distance need not diminish connection. The careful scheduling of asynchronous content allowed for comfortable viewing without time-zone overload, broadening participation and enriching dialogue.

Conference Themes & Highlights

Talks from Geoff Timms, Alejandro Paz, and Amanda Whitmire focused on Technology and Innovation, exploring strategies for integrating generative AI into marine science education, running Carpentries workshops for computational literacy, and transforming historical field station collections into actionable climate data.

Sessions on Information Access and Literacy included work by Femi Lawrence Ibikunle and colleagues on grey literature and information literacy for fisheries research, and Frank Ugwu on student information-seeking behaviours. Elijah Omariba Mokaya examined open access resources in marine research libraries, while Leah Amoding presented a community-driven library model supporting inclusion and empowerment.

Kate Boylan, Sara Pike, and Raymond Stein addressed sustaining high-value, low-use collections, and Samantha Porter demonstrated how bibliometric tools (VOSviewer, CiteSpace etc.). can add institutional value. Open Access and repository services were explored by Matthew Person and Sally Taylor & Ekaterina Kulakova, highlighting cost-neutral OA agreements and AquaDocs innovations. How can students better understand climate changes through art activities and "Learn by Doing" philosophy was presented by Jeannine Scarmozzino. What amount of effort is needed to recover fully from disaster was presented by Joyce Shaw on Gunter Library example on Hurricane Katrina 20 Year Anniversary. Freedom of expression as topic was also mentioned at the conference.

European contributions were a highlight: Tamsin Vicary reflected on ASFA’s evolution and future directions, reinforcing its role in global aquatic science information. Cultural and historical perspectives came through in David Irvin’s celebration of Guin Library’s 35 years and Ashley Jester’s digitisation of rare whale recordings.

At the IAMSLIC Business Meeting besides the reports, results of election were presented and new officers were acknowledged. Tamsin Vicary, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and EURASLIC member steps up as a president for the 2025-2026.

Virtual participants were deprived from a very interesting field trip to Martha’s Vineyard but there was a Happy Hour with Dave.

The 2025 conference truly lived up to its theme: honouring the past while embracing the future. From my screen, it felt vibrant, purposeful, and deeply connected—a testament to IAMSLIC’s commitment to inclusivity and innovation. Looking forward to continuing this spirit of collaboration at future EURASLIC and IAMSLIC events!