Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre facts for kids
The Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre is a special place where scientists study the ocean. It's located in Bamfield, a small community in British Columbia, Canada. This centre started in 1972 and is supported by five big universities in Canada: the University of Victoria, the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary.
The Centre is a hub for learning about marine life. It offers many fun and educational programs for school kids. These programs teach young people about the ocean and its amazing creatures. University students also come here to take advanced courses in marine science during the summer and fall.
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A Look Back in Time
The buildings at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre have a cool history. They were once part of a very important communication system. This site was the western end of a huge underwater cable network. This network was called the All Red Line. It helped send messages all over the British Empire.
The Telegraph Cable Era
The main building was originally the Pacific Cable Board (PCB) Cable Station. It was a key part of a telegraph cable that stretched across the Pacific Ocean. This cable connected Canada to a distant place called Fanning Island. That's about 1,600 kilometres south of Hawaii! The telegraph cable worked from 1901 until 1959. It was a vital link for sending messages quickly around the world.
Early Ocean Studies
From 1969 to 1980, the Centre, then called the Bamfield Marine Station, helped with a big ocean study. It was part of the British Columbia Shore Station Oceanographic Program. For 11 years, scientists here measured the ocean's temperature and saltiness every single day. This information was important for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. It helped them understand changes in our coastal waters.
Modern Research and Partnerships
Today, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre continues to be a leader in ocean research. It works with other organizations to study the ocean in new ways.
Supporting Ocean Networks
The Centre provides important help for Ocean Networks Canada. This group uses special underwater cables and sensors to collect data from the ocean floor. The Centre helps them with their work in areas like Folger Passage and Barkley Sound. This allows scientists to learn more about deep-sea environments.
Drone Mapping Project
In April 2016, the Centre teamed up with the Huu-ay-aht First Nations and the Hakai Institute. They launched a drone to take many pictures of the Barkley Sound area. These photos were then used to create detailed maps. This project helps us understand the local environment better.
New Leadership
On July 1, 2018, Dr. Sean Rogers became the new director of the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. He is a biology instructor from the University of Calgary. Dr. Rogers had taught courses at the Centre before. He also served as the acting director in 2016. He leads the Centre's important work in marine science.
