The Ocean Research in Canada Alliance (ORCA) is a new initiative in its formative stages. The successful 2017 workshop recommended initiatives to move the Canadian ocean science and technology community towards coordination of research efforts, programming, and associated infrastructure. ORCA 2018 addresses these challenges and opportunities by facilitating knowledge exchange and outcome-oriented sessions focused on action to drive collaboration. The goal of ORCA 2018 is to bring Canada’s ocean science and technology community together to create a successful culture of collaboration that can deliver an aligned and co-ordinated path forward for oceans science and technology.

If you wish to contribute to this goal and you are engaged in ocean research or ocean-related scientific and technical work in an occupation focused on oceans science and technology, consider attending ORCA 2018. Attendees will address questions like …

• How do we improve Canada’s capacity to perform science at sea?
• How do we increase public understanding about the importance of healthy oceans?
• How do we strengthen the linkages in the ocean science innovation sector?

Sessions are focused on sharing ideas and knowledge about:

• Aligned Efforts, Plans, and Funding Around Shared Priorities;
• Advancing the Sharing of Infrastructure;
• Science in Support of Public Policy, Regulation, and Decision-making;
• Encouraging Innovation and the Commercialization of Knowledge and Technology;
• Communicating Ocean Science and Technology and Building Canada’s Ocean Literacy;
• Working Towards a Cohesive Voice for the Ocean Science Community in International Fora, and;
• Identifying opportunities for collaboration.

The meeting is open to active members of the ocean-focused scientific research and technology innovation community in all its diversity, from those whose occupations engage them in Traditional Ecological Knowledge, to earth observation of phytoplankton, to benthic ecosystem studies or seabed mapping, and all the ocean topics in-between.

There is no cost for registration but you must pre-register in order to attend. The program, materials and details are available through registration.

Please click the link below for more information, or here to register. Registration closes April 6th, 2018.

We look forward to working with you to advance ocean science and technology in Canada!