Modern science is starting to take amateur scientists’ observations seriously. The impressive performance of over 500 citizen scientists who signed on for a study counting sablefish off the Tofino coast is heartening proof that we can all play a part in understanding the ocean, says one of the Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) scientists who co-authored the study.

It’s never too early to help young ocean scientists get to know the ocean. In April 2017, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) hosted its fifth annual Ocean Science Symposium, an engaging two-day opportunity to inspire the next generation of ocean scientists. Bringing together over 70 students and teachers from 16 schools across Vancouver Island, northern British Columbia, and the Arctic, this educational hands-on experience emphasized the teamwork and collaboration needed to explore and understand the ocean.

Ocean exploration is as exciting and complex as traveling into outer space. It involves cool tech, hard science, daring innovation, and a large team of highly qualified personnel. And thanks to underwater cameras and telepresence technology, the public can participate in Ocean Networks Canada’s (ONC) quest to know the ocean. Starting on 28 April, Expedition 2017: Wiring the Abyss is ONC’s first major expedition of the year. This ten-day operation involves a team of 35 scientists, engineers, technicians, and data specialists who will live aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Vessel John P. Tully.

How do you study a moving wall of water and sediment the size of a truck traveling at 30 kilometers per hour? A paper about a spectacular Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) dataset was recently selected as one of science journal Sedimentology’s Top 10 articles of 2016, as an example showcasing “good practice, innovative approaches, and noteworthy advances of our science.” Congratulations to marine geoscientist Gwyn Lintern and colleagues from Natural Resources Canada who published this paper on the tumbling delta dynamics laboratory platform.

Coastal communities are facing a variety of rapid environmental changes. Real-time data from cabled observatories can be used by community members to make informed decisions about their coastal and marine resources. In March 2016, ONC continued to push the innovation envelope by deploying three community observatories along the British Columbia coast: in Campbell River, Kitamaat Village, and Prince Rupert. After a year in operation, this first anniversary review celebrates the successes, challenges, and future for ONC’s community observatories.

For International Women’s Day, we celebrate two powerful ocean leaders who stand on guard for the sea on Canada's east and west coasts. On the Pacific coast, ONC CEO Dr. Kate Moran (left) is an internationally renowned ocean engineer who has led several major oceanographic expeditions. And on the Atlantic coast, Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright is CEO of Dalhousie University's brand new Ocean Frontier Institute. Dr. Watson-Wright brings 25 years of experience in the marine scientific research community including serving as Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s assistant deputy minister of science. This dynamic duo are leading the way for global ocean research and stewardship.

Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) applauds the United States and Canada in their resolve to embrace opportunities and confront challenges in the changing Arctic through Indigenous partnerships and responsible, science-based leadership.

On 20 December, President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau issued a United States-Canada Joint Arctic Leaders’ Statement to launch actions ensuring a strong, sustainable, and viable Arctic economy and ecosystem. Actions include low-impact shipping, science-based management of marine resources, and freedom from the future risks of offshore oil and gas activity. Together, these actions set the stage for deeper partnerships with other Arctic nations, including through the Arctic Council.

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Twice a year, every spring and fall, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) heads to sea aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Vessel (CCGV) John Tully to maintain and upgrade ocean monitoring instrumentation in Saanich Inlet and the Strait of Georgia. Between 4 - 11 October 2016, in addition to the infrastructure maintenance priorities of the expedition, the ONC team also successfully deployed new instrumentation, carried out several activities in support of our science community, and collected samples for benchmarking and calibration of instruments.

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Undergraduate student, Ada Loewen, just completed her co-op term at Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) as part of her combined University of Victoria degree in physics and ocean sciences. Using data from the Cambridge Bay observatory, Ada improved a one-dimensional thermodynamic sea-ice model funded through ONC’s Safe Passage project with Polar Knowledge Canada.

This summer, an international community of submarine canyon scientists gathered in Victoria, British Columbia to present state-of-the-art research and discuss new technology, marine policy and conservation. From 25-27 July, Ocean Networks Canada hosted the third INCISE International Submarine Canyon Symposium, the first to be held in North America.

In June 2016, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) successfully deployed and connected the first of several earthquake early warning sensors on the Cascadia subduction zone. It will be part of a network of seismic sensors that ONC will install underwater and on land as part of an earthquake early warning system (EEWS) in partnership with Emergency Management British Columbia (EMBC).

Effective July 4, Naval Commander Brigitte Boutin will lead the organization’s strategic financial operations plan as it delivers ocean science and big data to Canada and the world.

In June 2016, these preliminary tsunami models were integrated into Exercise Coastal Response, Emergency Management BC’s first ever full-scale earthquake and tsunami response exercise. ONC staff scientist Tania Insua lead ONC’s tsunami modeling project. She traveled to Port Alberni to take part in this ground-breaking week and to experience the aftermath of an earthquake first-hand. 

Ocean Networks Canada’s preliminary tsunami models for Barkley Sound and the City of Port Alberni were integrated into Emergency Management BC’s first ever full-scale earthquake and tsunami response exercise: Exercise Coastal Response in Port Alberni June 7 - 10.