Halifax Marine Institute launches
A groundbreaking collaborative marine research and innovation vehicle that brings together a number of partners from industry, government and the post secondary education system has been launched on Canada's east coast. The Halifax Marine Research Institute was officially launched on June 2nd, 2011.
Key Points:
Ocean industries account for billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs in Atlantic Canada, while more than 10 per cent of all researchers in Atlantic Canada are focused on the ocean. The Halifax Marine Research Institute (HMRI) intends to help align these assets to benefit the region and the marine technology sector. The aim of the organization will be to increase the scale, quality, internationalization and impact of marine research, enhancing both the competitiveness of oceans industries and our knowledge base by taking advantage of synergies and crafting partnerships that build on the region's existing strengths. Bringing together academics and government researchers, from the social and natural sciences the institute will also serve as a bridge between the international marine research community, the private sector and policy-makers, and will provide the best possible tools and scientific information to assist those making informed decisions about our oceans.
The initiative builds on the ideas and collaborative efforts of Acadia University; Cape Breton University; Dalhousie University; Nova Scotia Agricultural College; Nova Scotia Community College; University of New Brunswick; University of Prince Edward Island; Department of Fisheries and Oceans – Maritimes Region; Defence Research and Development Canada – Atlantic; Environment Canada – Atmospheric Science and Technology; National Research Council of Canada – Institute for Marine Biosciences; Natural Resources Canada - Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic); Irving Shipbuilding Incorporated; Ocean Nutrition CANADA; Satlantic; Ultra Electronics and Vemco, The HMRI plans to expand to include other members from private industry, universities, government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
The HMRI will also co-ordinate international projects like the $150-million Ocean Tracking Network and The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust (UK) Chair in Modeling and Prediction of Marine Environmental Extremes.
The Scientific Director for the Institute is Doug Wallace, who is Dalhousie University's first Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Ocean Science and Technology.
Pull Quotes:
"We're extremely excited about the launch of this innovative new organization. A collaborative activity like this truly represents the future of marine research and innovation." - Dr. Tom Traves, President of Dalhousie University
- "HMRI will work strategically with its partners to build additional research capacity and attract significant new research funding to grow both the research and private industry that comprise the oceans sector in the province. It will help increase exports, grow high value jobs, increase GDP and grow the economy." -Dr. Martha Crago, Dalhousie’s Vice President, Research.
Images:
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| HMRI 1 Martha Crago, Vice President Research, Dalhousie University Download Hi-Res | HMRI 2 Premier Darrell Dexter addressed the crowd at the HMRI launch event Download Hi-Res | HMRI 3 Steve Durrell, president of Irving Shipbuilding Inc Download Hi-Res | HMRI 4 In lieu of a champagne popping to christen the organization, a tug fired its water cannons Download Hi-Res |
Videos:
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| Dr. Martha Crago Martha Crago, Vice President Research, Dalhousie University Download high resolution version (broadcast ready). | Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter Premier Darrell Dexter addressed the crowd at the HMRI launch event Download high resolution version (broadcast ready). | Steve Durrell Steve Durrell, president of Irving Shipbuilding Inc Download high resolution version (broadcast ready). |
Resource Links:
Dalhousie Links:
Contacts:
- Charles Crosby, APR, Senior Advisor, Media, 494-1269, charles.crosby@dal.ca
