Since 1992, the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) has coordinated international marine research in countries surrounding the north Pacific Ocean. Annual meetings, events and trainings are hosted by research institutions in member countries, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and the United States.

“High quality science lectures from the experts themselves, a tour of the actual equipment deployed; and working with outstanding young scientists from all over the world.” ~ PICES Summer School 2018 participant.

In July 2018, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) hosted 25 early career scientists from 11 countries⎯including Australia, Brazil, Switzerland, Ecuador, Germany and Greece⎯to attend a summer school on “Coastal Ocean Observatory Science” in Victoria, British Columbia (Figure 1).

Figure 1. The summer school was enjoyed by 25 early career marine biologists from 11 countries: Canada, United States, China, Republic of Korea, Russia, Australia, Brazil, Greece, Ecuador, Germany and Switzerland.

During this week-long workshop, a variety of hands-on activities, lectures, and field trips provided the international participants with an opportunity to learn about the physical, biological, chemical, and biogeochemical properties of British Columbia’s coastal waters, an overview of ONC’s sophisticated cabled observatory technology, and an understanding of how to analyze and interpret observatory data.

“A wonderful learning experience for me!” —Yunlong Chen (China)

A highlight of the summer school included a trip onboard the University of Victoria’s research vessel John Strickland, which provided the participants with hands-on experience of ONC’s ocean observing instruments at work in the field (Figure 2). A mid-week trip across the much-studied Salish Sea⎯onboard one of the three BC Ferries equipped with ONC sensors⎯was combined with a visit to Vancouver Aquarium to hear from senior scientist Peter Ross, director of the Ocean Pollution Research Program, and Hakai Institute’s Wylie Evans, an oceanographer who specializes in ocean chemistry.

Figure 2. ONC staff scientist Akash Sastri (far right) with University of Victoria graduate students who attended PICES Summer School 2018 onboard the University of Victoria’s marine research vessel John Strickland (left to right: Sue Velazquez, Renatta Grassi, Katia Tavri, and Rhonda Reidy).

By the end of the week, the participants presented the results of their analyses of prepared datasets—including time series, active acoustics, and video imagery data—and discussed how they will apply their summer school experiences at their home institutions.

“I am really excited to implement ideas I got from the summer school at Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral [a public university in Ecuador]. I really appreciate the opportunity to meet all the amazing people and learn about ONC, PICES, the University of Victoria and their capabilities.” —Luis Altamirano (Ecuador)

Figure 3. ONC hosted PICES Summer School 2018 in collaboration with the University of Victoria, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Vancouver Aquarium, and Hakai Institute. Poster artwork by Karen Hamilton.

“Thank you for everything! The summer school was excellent and I utterly enjoyed it.” —Niki Diogou (Greece)

ONC would like to thank hosting partners⎯the Institute of Fisheries and Oceans, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Vancouver Aquarium, Hakai Institute and the University of Victoria⎯for helping to make PICES Summer School 2018 such an outstanding success (Figure 3).