Transforming relationships with the ocean through science at Canada’s Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre – towards a new frontier for ocean science

The Pacific Marine Science Alliance (PMSA) is a unique marine sciences partnership across five western Canadian universities (University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Simon Fraser University and University of Victoria) with a permanent base for marine and coastal-oriented field operations at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC). Perched on the outer west coast of Canada, the BMSC is the epitome of realizing Dohrn’s vision to (1) provide unparalleled ocean access to remarkable biodiversity, (2) contribute to regional and global networks and collaborations, and (3) support the infrastructure and operations of modern marine stations. With support from the Canada Foundation of Innovation, the PMSA recently launched EMPOWER, a new research and training program to measure ocean weather and predict ecological response in near shore environments, in addition to a new marine science curriculum. In this talk I will highlight research opportunities for collaboration, and the role of PMSA for building and supporting Dohrn’s vision for ocean science globally.