UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Perth Programme Office (PPO) and the University of Western Australia's Oceans Institute are co-hosting an international Indian Ocean science conference at the new Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre (IOMRC) in Perth, Australia during 30 January to 4 February 2017. The Indian Ocean remains the least understood of all the world's oceans and as the country with the largest coastline bordering it, and Western Australia's climate and marine environments profoundly influenced by it, Perth is the ideal location for this gathering. The week's events will include a range of meetings, workshops (including open and closed sessions) and networking events of the following groups: * The Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System (IOGOOS) Regional Alliance – a key player in providing oversight for sustained ocean observations as part of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and related physical, biogeochemical, biological and climate research. IOGOOS and its science alliances (CLIVAR/IOC-GOOS of the Indian Ocean Region Panel—IORP, IMBER/IOGOOS alliance of the Sustained Indian Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research - SIBER, and the Indian Ocean Observing System Resources Forum of IOGOOS—IRF) will hold their annual meetings. * The Second International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2) Steering Committee will hold its inaugural full meeting as part of the 5 year international program underway in the Indian Ocean to comprehensively study the ocean from its coastal environments to the deep sea and connect that new understanding to societal needs, including capacity development. IIOE-2 will advance our understanding of the critical role that the Indian Ocean plays in the climate system at national and global scales, as well as reveal new information on its physical and biological characteristics that are fundamental for future sustainable development and expansion of the Indian Ocean’s Blue Economy. * Australian (through CSIRO and with IOC PPO support) and Indian researchers under an Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) project have been collaboratively examining the use of Bio-Argo robotic floats in the Indian Ocean. They will hold a technical workshop on the outcomes of their research and international developments towards a global Bio-Argo network as part of the Global Ocean Observing System.