The ninth international Surface Ocean-Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) Open Science Conference is being held in Goa, India, from November 11th to 14th. This marks the first time the conference, which takes place every two years, is being hosted in India. The event brings together leading experts in the field of surface ocean and lower atmosphere research to discuss the latest scientific developments and foster collaborations. The conference features three discussion sessions aimed at facilitating informal roundtable discussions on SOLAS-related topics. SOLAS is also planning to launch a mentorship program in mid-2025 to connect early career scientists with established researchers across multiple disciplines. An open session at the OSC is designed to gather feedback to shape the program’s design and implementation.