Launch of Halifax Marine Institute

The Halifax Marine Research Institute (HMRI) intends to increase the scale, quality, internationalization and impact of marine research, enhancing both the competitiveness of oceans industries and the 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.

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.