Although understanding the oceans has been a human quest since the time of the earliest civilisations, it is only in recent years that an understanding of the many important phenomena that control ocean behaviour has been achieved. Ocean microstructure and deep internal waves are some examples of these phenomena. The study of the ocean encompasses four general scientific fields: physics, chemistry, geology, and biology. Each of these fields has an extensive list of recent discoveries and problems. The school’s aim is to review progress in the fields of oceanography each year, focusing on areas of current research interest and those with important applications. The aim is to bring together both oceanography workers, to focus their attention on these topics, and scientists, trained in fluid mechanics, applied mathematics or physics, to acquaint them with the theoretical methods and observational results of a particular aspect of physical oceanography. The courses will last approximately two to three weeks, during which three lectures or seminars per day are scheduled. For a concentrated period during the first days and early mornings thereafter, lectures will be given on the school’s theme, providing participants with a common background. A second series of lectures, in the late morning, will be offered by various guest lecturers and will focus on applications of theory or observations relevant to the topic under discussion. A third series, possibly in the evening, will consist of discussions on unsolved problems of individual participants, partially solved problems and so on.