The theme of the Congress is “Connecting on the Rock: From the Marine Environment to the Blue Economy”, recognizing that this is the first time in several years that the CMOS community will meet face‑to‑face. This is also the first time we will embrace a new hybrid format for the Congress and invite both virtual and in‑person participation. We hope that this Congress will remind us of the connection we share with each other and the connection between science and society, particularly with respect to a better understanding of extreme events and fostering a Blue Economy, “a concept that seeks to promote economic growth, social inclusion and the preservation of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability of the oceans and coastal areas”, as defined by the World Bank.