Memorial University’s Marine Institute joins ocean floor mapping effort
Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Marine Institute has entered into a partnership with The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project. The university’s collaboration with the Seabed 2030 initiative will involve providing invaluable expertise and research capabilities.
Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO to inspire the complete mapping of the world’s ocean by 2030 and to compile all bathymetric data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map – it is also a formally endorsed Decade Action of the UN Ocean Decade. GEBCO is a joint programme of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and is the only organization with a mandate to map the entire ocean floor.
Memorial University is among Canada’s top research universities, with over 40% of its research being ocean focused. The university is a partner of the Ocean Frontier Institute – a collaborative research initiative bringing together researchers to tackle complex ocean challenges – and a member of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster – an industry-led cooperation accelerating the development of globally-relevant ocean solutions.
Advancing marine science
The Marine Institute is Canada’s most comprehensive centre for education, training, applied research and industrial support for the ocean industries, with studies available in the School of Fisheries, the School of Maritime Studies and the School of Ocean Technology. The institute – which was established in 1964 and joined the university in 1992 – also boasts ‘The Launch’, the institute’s new state-of-the-art marine living lab that offers a safe, reliable, near-Arctic environment to test new technology, train in harsh conditions and explore the next advances in ocean research.
“The Marine Institute’s world-class expertise and research capabilities will greatly support our mission here at Seabed 2030,” commented Seabed 2030 project director Jamie McMichael-Phillips. “We look forward to working collaboratively with colleagues at the Marine Institute towards a more comprehensive understanding of the ocean floor, in order to ensure its sustainable use and management.”
Dr Paul Brett, vice president, Memorial University (Marine Institute) and IOC-appointed member of GEBCO, said: “We are delighted to partner with Seabed 2030 in this groundbreaking initiative. Our institution has long been dedicated to advancing marine science and technology, and this collaboration aligns perfectly with our vision of fostering a sustainable ocean through knowledge and innovation.”
Sarah Walsh, geomatic specialist with the Marine Institute’s Centre for Applied Ocean Technology and Marine Institute graduate, will lead the institute’s work.
All data collected and shared with the Seabed 2030 project is included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid.
