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Ocean Frontier 2025:

Delivering a Safe and Sustainable Future

November 17 - 20, 2025
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel
Halifax, NS
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Conference Program

*Please note: This is a draft version of the program and therefore subject to change.

Monday, November 17

16:00 - 18:00
Registration
18:00 - 18:15
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
  • Anya Waite (Ocean Frontier Institute; Dalhousie University)
  • Paul Snelgrove (Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University)
18:15 - 20:00
Reception
  • A catered reception will be held in the Nova Scotia foyer

Tuesday, November 18

Safe and Sustainable Ocean Use
Maximizing Benefits and Minimizing Risks
08:30 - 09:00
Breakfast/Networking
09:00 - 09:25
Water Ceremony
  • Dorene Bernard (Mi’kmaq Grassroots Grandmother, Water Protector & Water Walker)
09:25 - 09:35
Opening Remarks
  • Anya Waite (Ocean Frontier Institute; Dalhousie University)
09:35 - 10:00
Fireside Chat
  • Senator Colin Deacon
  • Anya Waite (Ocean Frontier Institute; Dalhousie University)
  • Paul Snelgrove (Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University)
10:00 - 10:35
Module/LRP presentations
Future Ocean and Coastal Infrastructures in Atlantic Canada: Insights for Sustainability, Safety and Equity (FOCI)
  • Umme Kulsum (Saint Mary’s University)
Improving Sustainability and Mitigating the Challenges of Aquaculture (Module J)
  • Matt Rise (Memorial University)
10:35 - 11:00
Nutrition Break
11:00 - 12:00
Module/LRP presentations
State-of-the Art Stock Assessment Models and Sustainable Harvesting (Module H)
  • Jon Fisher (Memorial University)
Novel Sensors for Fish Health and Welfare (Module K)
  • Jinyu Sheng (Dalhousie University)
Impact of Warming on Valued Atlantic Groundfish (Module D)
  • Daniel Ruzzante (Dalhousie University)
Offshore Groundwater Resources in a Changing Marine Environment: Continental Shelf Surrounding PEI (SOURCE)
  • Fernando Cordoba (Dalhousie University)
12:00 - 13:30
Lunch/Networking
13:30 - 13:35
Delivering Benefits Overview
  • Eric Siegel (Ocean Frontier Institute; Dalhousie University)
13:35 - 15:15
Case Studies of Success: Safe and Sustainable Ocean Use
One Ocean Health
  • Stefanie Colombo (Dalhousie University)
Novel Lipid Sources for Aquaculture
  • Chris Parrish (Memorial University)
Innovation in Seaweed Vaporization: Bridging Research and Industrial Adoption through OFI Seed Funding
  • Deepika Dave (Marine Institute, Memorial University)
Seed Fund: Fattening Up Phytoplankton: A Step Towards Sustainable Omega-3s
  • Chris Latimer (Dalhousie University)
Seed Fund: Advancing Nanobubble Technology for Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
  • Theresa Afi (Dalhousie University)
Seed Fund: Atlantic Halibut Age Estimation Using Epigenomics
  • Daniel Ruzzante (Dalhousie University)
Seed Fund: Sunlight Meets the Ocean: Photothermal Interfaces for Desalination and Mineral Recovery
  • Mita Dasog (Dalhousie University)
Building Capacity in Ocean Research: Insights from OGEN
  • Tracey Woodhouse (Ocean Frontier Institute; Dalhousie University)
15:15 - 15:40
Nutrition Break
15:40 - 16:30
Delivering Policy, Community, and Industry Benefits
Biodiversity and Bioresources Research Strategy and Future Goals
  • Elianny Dominguez Tejo (Ocean Frontier Institute; Dalhousie University)
Roundtable Discussion: Safe and Sustainable Ocean Use
  • Moderator: Elianny Dominguez Tejo
16:30 - 17:30
Poster Session and Reception

Wednesday, November 19

Safe and Sustainable Development of Communities and Ecosystems
The Ocean and Societies
08:30 - 09:00
Breakfast/Networking
09:00 - 09:10
Opening Remarks
  • Paul Snelgrove (Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University)
09:10 - 10:25
Module/LRP presentations
Benthic Ecosystem Mapping for Sustainable Ocean Stewardship in a Shifting Ocean Climate (BeCOME)
  • Craig Brown (Dalhousie University)
Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures
  • Eric Oliver (Dalhousie University)
Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures Panel Discussion: IlinniaKatigennik: Defining and Applying Values in Community-Engaged Research (40 minutes)
  • Rachael Cadman (Dalhousie University)
  • Breanna Bishop (Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures Project)
  • May Wang (Dalhousie University)
  • Dylan Seidler (Dalhousie University)
  • IlinniaKatigennik
10:25 - 10:45
Nutrition Break
10:45 - 12:00
Module/LRP presentations
The Northwest Atlantic Biological Carbon Pump
  • Erin Bertrand (Dalhousie University)
Cooperative Model Framework for the Northwest Atlantic and Canadian Arctic Gateway (Module F)
  • Jinyu Sheng (Dalhousie University)
Changes in Atmosphere Ocean Interactions and Shifting Ecosystems (Module C)
  • Julie LaRoche (Dalhousie University)
Safe Navigation and Environmental Protection (Module N)
  • Aldo Chircop (Dalhousie University)
  • Ronald Pelot (Dalhousie University)
  • Floris Goerlandt (Dalhousie University)
12:00 - 13:45
Lunch
Fireside Chat
  • Senator Fabian Manning
  • John Risley (Chair of the Ocean Supercluster)
  • Anya Waite (Ocean Frontier Institute; Dalhousie University)
  • Paul Snelgrove (Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University)
13:45 - 14:55
Module/LRP presentations
Ecosystem Indicators for a Changing Ocean (Module E)
  • Paul Snelgrove (Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University)
Building Towards a Climate-Smart Marine Conservation Toolbox (Module G)
  • Boris Worm (Dalhousie University)
  • David VanderZwaag (Dalhousie University)
Informing Governance Responses in a Changing Ocean (Module I)
  • Ruyel Miah (University of Waterloo)
Social License and Planning in Coastal Communities (Module M)
  • Charlie Mather (Memorial University)
Data Management (Module P2)
  • Mike Smit (Dalhousie University)
14:55 - 15:15
Nutrition Break
15:15 - 15:20
Delivering Benefits Overview
  • Eric Siegel (Ocean Frontier Institute; Dalhousie University)
15:20 - 16:30
Case Studies of Success: Safe and Sustainable Development of Communities and Ecosystems
Success Story Presentation
  • Boris Worm (Dalhousie University)
Success Story: Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures: Kaipokok Bay Ice Monitoring Site
  • May Wang (Dalhousie University)
Success Story: Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures: Leveraging Transdisciplinary Approaches to Advance Seabird Monitoring, Sustainable Harvesting, and Community Education in Nunatsiavut
  • Jacqueline Winters (Dalhousie University)
  • Cerren Richards (Memorial University)
Success Story: Community Engagement in Monitoring and Understanding of Eelgrass Habitats
  • Kristina Boerder (Dalhousie University) and Billie-Joe Fowler
Seed Fund Presentation
  • Desai Shan (Memorial University)
Seed Fund: Developing Sustainable Artisanal Diets to Improve Performance in a Commercial Shrimp Production Farm in Cabo Verde
  • Chris Parrish (Memorial University)
SNF Artists in Residence
  • Emma Bugg (Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures project)
16:30 - 17:00
Delivering Policy, Community, and Industry Benefits
Roundtable Discussion: Safe and Sustainable Development of Communities and Ecosystems
  • Moderator: Desai Shan (Memorial University)
17:00 - 17:45
Poster Session and Reception

Thursday, November 20

Ocean Climate Nexus
Transforming Climate Action for a Safe and Sustainable Future
08:30 - 09:00
Breakfast/Networking
09:00 - 09:10
Opening Remarks
  • Anya Waite (Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University)
09:10 - 09:55
Module/LRP presentations
Transforming Ocean Observations (Module O)
  • Brad deYoung (Memorial University)
Auditing the Northwest Atlantic Carbon Sink (Module B)
  • Doug Wallace (Dalhousie University)
Marine Atmospheric Composition and Visibility (Module A)
  • Rachel Chang (Dalhousie University)
10:00 - 10:40
Case Studies of Success: Ocean Climate Nexus
Seed Fund: Laying the Foundation: Supporting Impact Assessment for OSW in Nova Scotia
  • Ian Stewart (University of King’s College)
Seed Fund: SWIM Alert: Monitoring and Forecasting Water Quality and Invasive Species in Real Time
  • Catherine Evans (Dalhousie University)
Seed Fund: Renewable Energy Harvesting from Ocean Waves
  • Lihong Zhang (Memorial University)
Seed Fund: UAV for Ice and Slush Monitoring in Inuit Nunangat Communities
  • Robert Briggs (National Research Council of Canada)
10:55 - 11:10
Nutrition Break
11:15 - 11:35
Keynote Address
11:45 - 12:30
Fireside Chat
  • Anya Waite (Ocean Frontier Institute; Dalhousie University)
  • Paul Snelgrove (Ocean Frontier Institute; Memorial University)
  • Jake Rice (Retired Chief Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
12:30 - 14:00
Lunch and Closing Ceremony
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For questions related to Ocean Frontier 2025, please contact OFI@dal.ca