“Successful innovation is not a single breakthrough. It is not a sprint. It’s not an event for the solo runner. Successful innovation is a team sport, it’s a relay race. “ ~ Quyen Nguyen, professor of surgery, University of California.

Observing and understanding the ocean is as challenging as space exploration; it takes leadership, innovation, and teamwork.

Figure 1. Map of ONC infrastructure and partners.

Ocean Networks Canada’s (ONC) growing matrix of Internet-connected instruments and sensors on three coasts (Figure 1) provides real-time data to help scientists, leaders, and communities understand our country’s coastline and deep sea. But who are the specialists that make this world-leading innovation possible? We invite you to take a glimpse at the team behind Canada’s national ocean observatory.

Thanks to over a decade of support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, ONC is now a thriving village made up of 129 professionals from a variety of disciplines who serve over thirteen thousand ocean data users globally.

At ONC’s University of Victoria-based ocean hub, engineers, scientists and data specialists rub shoulders with educators, business analysts, media professionals and software developers. Together, we make it possible to #knowtheocean.

Check out Canada Foundation for Innovation’s #IAmInnovation campaign, featuring #CFIfunded science, technology and data specialists sharing their Canadian innovation stories.