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Transformative Ocean Science through the VENUS and

NEPTUNE Canada Ocean Observing Systems

Martin Taylor

President and CEO

Ocean Networks Canada

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VENUS is located in two places:

• Strait of Georgia is a deep in-land basin, influenced by tides, wind, and river forcing.Depths to 300m: 3 sites

• Saanich Inlet is sheltered, has complex bio-chemical cycles, and is a model for eutrophic, low oxygen basins.At 100 m depth: 1 site

Oceans '08 Kobe

Oceans '08 Kobe

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Transformative Ocean Science and Technology

• Transformative Science– Integrated ocean system process studies– Continuous real-time measurement– Plate scale investigation– Interdisciplinary research – physical, chemical

and biological processes– Dynamic web-based collaborative

investigation by international research teams

Oceans '08 Kobe

Earth-ocean processes and systems

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Transformative S&T• Transformative Technologies

– 10KV continuous power supply– New solutions to power conversion and sub-

sea connectors– New and modified instrumentation– System designed DMAS

• supporting remote control of instruments• and real time data streaming to the Internet

– Novel web-based analysis platforms

Oceans '08 Kobe

Node insertion into TRF, MARS

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ROPOS and ROCLS

Oceans '08 Kobe

Oceans '08 Kobe

Data Management and Archive System (DMAS)

Oceans '08 Kobe

Oceans '08 Kobe

Saanich Inlet: a Natural Laboratory

230m deep fjord with restricted water inflow… High productivity Anoxic bottom waters in summerDissolved oxygen renews each fall

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Supporting applied research

A specialized cable extension onto the unstable slope of the Fraser Delta• accelerometers and pressure sensors • effects of dredge spoil dumping• slope failures in hazardous conditions

See Data plots on our Website

Zooplankton migration on April 5; Oxygen in Saanich Inlet for one week

Chlorophyll at 40m April 5; Tidal forcing of salinity over a week in Strait of Georgia

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Science Research Themes

Plate tectonic processes and earthquake dynamics

Dynamic processes of fluid fluxes and gas hydrates in the sea bed

Regional ocean/climate dynamics and effects on marine biota

Deep-sea ecosystem dynamics

Engineering and computational research

seismicseismictsunamitsunami

NetworksNetworks

chemicalchemicalcurrentcurrent

visualvisual

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Applications of the Research

• Informing public policy– Hazard mitigation– Ocean-climate dynamics– Resource assessment– Security and sovereignty

• Creating economic and commercial development opportunities– Backbone system devt for global applns– Innovation in sub-sea instrumentation– DMAS for massive data handling– Knowledge products for public outreach

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Applications of the Research

• Promoting Public Education and Outreach– Web-site development for public access– Interactive and static exhibits for aquaria,

science centres, museums, etc.– Oceans curricula for K-12 and PSE– Innovative research and education programs

at the Bamfield Marine Research Station– Possible future devt of a Victoria Ocean

Observatory

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The Challenges

• Recruiting the research user community– University-based faculty and student researchers– Government agency scientists– Private sector R&D staff– NGO and other public sector users

• Recruiting and retaining HQP– Scientific leadership– Senior Management– Senior engineering and IT staff

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The Challenges• Securing sustained and sufficient operating funding

– Federal Govt program for major science platforms in Canada– Fee structures for user groups– Fee for service programs (Engineering, DMAS)

• Generating revenue to support research applications– Govt agency grants and contracts for policy-related initiatives– Private sector contracts for system access, instrument testing,

etc– Private sector collaborations in IP devt (licence and royalty

agreements)– Foundation and donor support for public good programs

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Ocean Networks Canada

• Mission– to govern and manage the NEPTUNE Canada

and VENUS ocean-observatory initiatives to meet the highest standards of research excellence, societal contribution, and best operational and business practices

• Rationale– Scope, scale, longevity and risks of major

science platform O&M

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Ocean Networks Canada• Mandate

– To support transformative oceans research– To provide evidence that informs high priority public

policy issues– To create economic and commercial development

opportunities– To promote public education and outreach initiatives– To apply and enhance best practices in the

governance and mgt of major science programs– To foster the development of multi-sector international

collaboration in oceans research

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Ocean Networks CanadaLogic Model

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TransformativeS&TOutputsOutputsInputsInputs OutcomesOutcomes

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ONC-Transformative S&T• Inputs

– NEPTUNE Canada and VENUS as world leading ocean observatories

– International leadership advantage for at least three years

– Capacity to support transformative science– World class science and technical leadership– Potential to attract top national and international

researchers, PDFs and students– Capital costs fully funded ($100M)– Operating costs secured to 03-10 ($18.9M) for NC/V

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ONC-Transformative S&T• Inputs

– S&T Partnerships• Consortium of Canadian Universities• CANARIE• Federal and Provincial Depts and Agencies• U.S. NSF/COL-OOI/UW-UCSD• Other International

– Japan - DONET– Taiwan - MACHO – EU - Ifremer/ESONet

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ONC – Transformative S&T• Outputs

– Provide Global desktop access to NC and V• For instrument control• For data access

– Create “Our Ocean” Web-site for collaborative research– Develop web-based user manuals– Promote research opportunities through web-sites , conferences and workshops– Support a seminar series on ocean observing systems S&T (providing remote

access)– Build national/intl interdisciplinary research teams for funding proposals– Recruit PDFs and graduate students internationally– Provide seed funds for proposal development– Establish awards for innovative research– Develop inter-university graduate courses in ocean observing systems– Communicate and celebrate research progress and achievements– Increase university faculty involvement in NC/V S&T

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ONC – Transformative S&T• Outcomes (examples)

– Doubling of research PIs by 12-2011– Five-fold increase in number of intensive data users

by 12-2011– Yearly doubling in the active web-based analysts– Doubling of conference papers presented and journal

articles published using NC/V data by 12-2011– 5 PDFs and 25 graduate students (at least 15 PhD)

recruited to work on NC/V by 12-2011– At least two new graduate courses in place by 12-

2011– Annual doubling in national level media coverage of

NC/V S&T

Ocean Networks Canada Organizational Chart

UVic Board of Governors

ONCBoard of Directors

ONCPresident and CEO

ONCExecutive Council

NEPTUNE CanadaProject Director

VENUSProject Director

[ONCBusiness Development Officer]

Executive Assistant to the ONCPresident and CEO

NC Project Team VENUS Project Team

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Ocean Networks CanadaBoard of Directors

• Board Composition– Chair

– ONC President and CEO

– University of Victoria (x2)

– Partner universities (x2)

– International Partners (x1)

– Funding Agencies (x2)

– Federal and Provincial Governments (x3)

– Private Sector (x2)

– NGOs (x1)

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Summary• The excitement of NEPTUNE Canada and

VENUS major science initiatives• The opportunities for transformative S&T and

important societal contributions• The challenges to sustain, build and fund the

operations• The importance of governance and management

structure and practices• The invitation to international partners to

participate in collaborative S&T

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European ocean network: 11 sites

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△ observatory with sensors

・ 60 Seismometers

・ 20 Pressure gauges

Ocean floor cable network system - MEXT/DONET project