Program description

Introduction to marine sensor technology including underwater cabled observatories & shore-based coastal weather stations.

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Instrument Technology Course

Our valued citizen scientist community shares and contributes to data monitoring and collection programs.


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Citizen Science Resources

Panel discussion with Canada’s Chief Science Advisor Dr. Mona Nemer at the Canadian Science Policy Conference 2024. 

Financial support, mentorship and residency programs for visiting scientists, scholars and students. 

ONC works with partners to deliver ocean literacy programs for K-12, post secondary and citizen science education. 

Ocean science and event hosting resources for K-12 students, educators and general audiences.


Discovering the ocean through science, Indigenous Knowledge and data exploration. 

Our modules, co-created with Indigenous community partners, that provide experiential learning for middle/high school students.


Modules

How our cameras, hydrophones and sensors allow us to see, hear and experience the ocean. 

Instrument Overviews & Lesson Plans

An ONC-hosted event for students and educators to learn about marine science careers and opportunities.

Ocean Science Symposium

ONC is a proud partner on many projects that bring ocean science and knowledge into the community.

Featured Projects

Ocean Sense Program

ONC’s educator resources include all-grade classroom activities with instructions, videos & other materials. 

Ocean Knowledge Cards

Educator Resources

Resources that help educators integrate ocean intelligence into curriculum. 

Educator Professional Development

Offering schools an interactive presentation on ocean science, Indigenous knowledge & data that helps us #knowtheocean 

Book a Visit

Thousands of young people across Canada are taking on the challenge as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science.


#OceanDecade Challenge

Learn about the 7 Principles of Ocean Literacy through fun, hands-on activities utilising materials around your home.

Ocean Aware Challenge

Offering educators, students & the public the opportunity to connect with ONC at-sea maintenance expeditions & other field activities.

Ship2Shore Program

Youth Programs K-12

Coastal & deep-sea marine science courses & resources developed with universities, colleges & community groups.



This course focuses on topics involving human impacts on the ocean that are of particular relevance to society. 

Understanding the Oceans Course

Test your fish knowledge in this six minute video.

Fish ID Challenge

Dive with us 2,300 metres below sea level at the Main Endeavour field.

Wiring the Abyss: Lab Activity

Meet the Pacific Ocean’s deepest ocean dwellers using ONC’s underwater observatories and video footage.

Biodiversity in the Deep Sea

Play our ocean science observation game where volunteers help analyse ONC’s deep-sea videos.

Digital Fishers

Post Secondary Education

Learning

As oceanography is a highly interdisciplinary science, understanding the oceans requires linking elements of chemistry, physics, biology, and geology. Beginning with a series of core lectures that provide a basic introduction to oceanography, the course continues with a series of thematic modules, each focused on an ocean issue of societal concern and exploring how technology is allowing us to better understand the ocean.

Module topics include earthquakes and tsunamis, ocean pollution, deoxygenation, and climate change, as well as an introduction to university-community engagement and science communication. An active learning approach is taken in the modules, including small‐group work, discussions, and other in‐class activities. The course culminates in a research paper and realistic action plan with respect to an ocean topic of the student’s choosing.

The course is offered annually from September to December at the University of Victoria (course code: [EOS 350](https://www.uvic.ca/calendar/future/undergrad/#/courses/ryhhmOaQV?bc=true&bcCurrent=&bcCurrent=Understanding%20the%20Oceans&bcItemType=courses)) and is currently classroom-based. The course is co-taught with members of ONC’s Science team and is intended for non-science or science students (minimum second-year standing) with an interest in learning more about the ocean and a desire to foster positive change on ocean issues. 

# Learning objectives
 
The primary objective of this course is to engage students in thinking about issues of societal relevance that involve the ocean and how scientists are addressing these issues in the 21st century. An understanding of these issues, how they arise, and of the fundamentals of oceanography is important if students wish to participate in their communities as informed, ocean literate citizens.

## Contact information:<br />
For questions regarding this program, please contact [Dr. Dave Riddell](mailto:riddelld@uvic.ca), Post-Secondary Education Coordinator