The format of IOCS-2019 included:
- Invited talks by keynote speakers
- Presentations from space agencies on emerging applications and science from current and planned missions
- Nine breakout workshops to address current critical issues in ocean colour science designed to provide feedback to the space agencies
- Special session on ocean colour remote sensing in Asian waters
- Four poster sessions for participants to present their own research
- NASA Ocean Color Science Team (OCRT) meeting on 8 April 2019, held in conjunction with IOCS-2019
- Several training events prior to IOCS-2019
See the full meeting programme.