The event is organized to foster intensive discussion among the participants and follows the previous event's format. We do so by having public commentary, panel discussions and this time limited student participation via poster presentation. The workshop will be by invitation only for a full four days from March 17th thru 20th 2015 in the quiet setting of Horta, Faial Island in the mid-Atlantic Azores, a Portuguese territory. Horta is connected to the mainland via TAP Air Portugal and SATA Azores International Airlines. SATA flies to the US east coast and Europe.

Those invited will be asked to provide 3-4 page extended abstracts (which may have co-authors), which should clearly address the key questions of "what are your technical interests? Why? And what do you see the future in your area of interest for Marine Robotics which addresses Inter-disciplinary science and engineering?" in the context of inter-disciplinary science and engineering. The text should strictly following the specific section headers:

1. Title
2. Abstract: 1 paragraph
3. Introduction: 0.5 to 1 page
4. Technical description of your research: 1 page max
5. Key challenges: 0.5 to 1 page
6. The Future: 0.5 to 1 page

Note that this format is fixed and invitations are not transferable. Extended abstracts not in this format will be returned but the organizers will iterate with the author(s) till it fits this format. Doing so, ensures there is some sound basis for objective comparison, backed with subjective analysis during the workshop.

Symposium Process

Prior to the event

1. Each abstract will be reviewed by the organizers to ensure alignment with the symposium goals and then assigned to a commentator likely from outside the sub-field of the researcher.
2. The commentator will be publicly identified and author(s) and commentators will be encouraged to connect in any manner they feel appropriate, prior to the event.
3. The commentator's job would be to digest and provide a critique of the author(s) work and do so via a written 1-page comment. The critique can come in the form of
   
   1. guidance to other related work that the author(s) might not have considered
   2. pointed criticism which could open additional lines of inquiry for research
   3. extending work in ways not previously thought of, including those related to specific applications
   4. connecting to industry and/or specific industrial needs
4. Both the extended abstract and the final commentary will be posted to the symposium web pages prior to the event so all participants are aware of various position statements and rebuttals.

During the event

1. Each participant will be asked to present with viewgraphs which could be made available prior to the symposium on this website.
2. Commentators will provide commentary.
3. Authors will have the opportunity to rebut the commentary.
4. The format will be: