Dalhousie to headquarter Network of Centres of Excellence in Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response
A collaborative national network to place Canada at the forefront of marine research and hazard management will be headquartered at Dalhousie University.
The Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR) will bring together a team of outstanding Canadian researchers dedicated to anticipating and responding to marine hazards and rapidly changing risk patterns for coastal communities, industry and ecosystems alike.
MEOPAR will help Canada reduce its vulnerability and exposure to new hazards while enabling us to more rapidly respond to marine emergencies.
Key Points:
The government of Canada is providing $25 million over five years to support this Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE).
Scientific Director Douglas Wallace will lead the MEOPAR network, based at Dalhousie University.
MEOPAR will bring together a variety of national and international organizations from academia, all levels of government, the insurance industry, the oil and gas industry, marine technology firms and coastal community organizations.
MEOPAR's research partnerships will lead to risk assessment and response mechanisms and technologies that will be of direct value for industries, government and communities concerned with marine safety and responsibility.
The MEOPAR Network will train specialists and mobilize knowledge to make our relationship with the oceans safer and more sustainable - for the benefit of Canadians, from sea to sea to sea.
Pull Quotes:
"Our government’s Economic Action Plan 2012 focuses on the drivers of growth and job creation – innovation, investment, education, skills and communities. Improving health care, sustaining the environment and managing natural resources are three very important priorities for Canadians and by focusing research investments on these areas we will build a more sustainable future for all Canadians." - Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology.
"Canada helped pioneer networking more than 20 years ago as a way of getting the most out of our research capacity. By bringing together the best minds from across the country to focus on a specific area, these new networks carry on a proud tradition that has benefitted Canada greatly." - Suzanne Fortier, President of the Natural Sciences and engineering Research Council.
"This joint effort of universities, industries and federal laboratories from coast to coast brings our country's great strength in oceans-related research to bear on a leading problem with potentially disastrous human and environmental outcomes." – Martha Crago, Vice-President (Research), Dalhousie University and Founder of the Consortium of Ocean Research Universities.
"Canada needs to be a world leader in ocean research. We are particularly vulnerable to extremes and emergencies because of our long coastline, rapidly changing environment and growing economic dependence on oceans." – Doug Wallace, Scientific Director, MEOPAR
"Diverse training programs will help a national group of young researchers become champions of ocean responsibility and sought after experts to address complex oceans issues in the years to come." – Martha Crago, Vice-President (Research), Dalhousie University and Founder of the Consortium of Ocean Research Universities.
Images:
 |  |
| MEOPAR 1 Download Hi-Res | MEOPAR 2 Doug Wallace Download Hi-Res |
Resource Links:
Dalhousie Links:
Contacts:
- Charles Crosby, Senior Media Advisor, Dalhousie University, 902.494.1269, charles.crosby@dal.ca
- Michele-Jamali Paquette, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, (613) 947-2956
- Kelly Nolan, Communications Manager, Networks of Centres of Excellence Secretariat, (613) 996-0390
