08 Dec Collaboration Between Canadian and Chilean University Consortiums Strives to Understand and Protect the Ocean
Geographically, there are five oceans on planet Earth, and though each one may seem different, there is really only one inter-connected ocean; One Ocean with challenges that transcend cultural and political borders. As we move further into the UN Ocean Decade, ‘One Ocean Science’ collaborations are increasingly recognized as critical to an equitable and sustainable planet
In the pursuit of this goal, marine researchers from Canada and Chile are developing an international strategy to work together through an ambitious statement of collaboration in ocean science.
These two countries may not be neighbors, but this collaboration is essential to modern marine science. The Pacific coastlines of Chile and Canada are remarkably similar and together make up over one-fifth of the world’s coastline. Both nations are also heavily involved in polar research: Canada in The Arctic and Chile in Antarctica. These shared similarities also mean that the two nations face analogous ocean challenges: from ocean acidification and climate change to salmon management, equitable collaboration with indigenous groups, and the creation and implementation of economically viable and sustainable resource management practices.
Through collaborative ocean research and education initiatives, Canada and Chile are uniquely positioned to improve our understanding of the ocean, and develop strategies to promote sustainable marine economic development, while gaining insight into the mitigation of ocean hazards from seismic activity to marine heatwaves.
This is what has ultimately led to the signing of a statement of intent between the Pacific Marine Science Alliance (PMSA) and Océanos Institute, the formation of a new Chilean consortium in ocean research, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the nation’s science funding agencies.
More than a Decade in The Making
Collaborative research and exchanges between Canada and Chile have been building over the last ten years, led by Dr. Phillipe Tortell (UBC & PMSA Board Member) who has been conducting research in Chile and Antarctica over two decades, and Chilean peers Dr. Osvaldo Ulloa (U. Concepcion) and Dr. Ivan Perez-Santos (U. de Los Lagos), among others. In the last four years specifically, the PRODIGY project (Pacific Rim Ocean Data Mobilization and Technology) has been at the center of this work. The program, a partnership between UBC, UVic, the University of Waterloo, and the Chile’s Millennium Institute of Oceanography is training the next generation of ocean-data experts through advanced, interdisciplinary instruction in ocean observation, prediction, and data science. Perhaps most importantly, PRODIGY provides trainees with international, cross-cultural experience during the program. Additionally, PROTÉGÉ — a multi-year graduate student exchange program between UBC and Chile, funded by Universities Canada’s Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship Program (QES) — is growing the capacity of this partnership.
Now, ocean research consortiums from Canada and Chile are coming together to further expand on this relationship and foster additional opportunities for shared research and education programs between the two nations.
The Ocean Science Consortiums
Canada’s PMSA
The PMSA is a registered Canadian not-for-profit that was formed by five western Canadian universities – the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columba, University of Calgary, and University of Alberta – that is dedicated to advancing marine research, education, and innovation both nationally and around the world. This alliance also owns and operates the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC), located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
The PMSA recently launched a national initiative with MEOPAR (The Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network), to expand research capacity and impact, largely by fostering collaborations between groups with regional expertise, on a national and international scale. This initiative, known as PRISMS (the Pacific Rim Initiative for Sustainable Marine Systems), has supported the development of the Canada-Chile collaboration. PRISMS is also building collaborative research and teaching with the Takuvik International Research Laboratory (ULaval), Oceans Networks Canada, the Tula Foundation, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).
Océanos Institute & The Chilean National Consortium of Ocean Science
The Océanos Institute was created at the University of Concepcion in Chile to lead sustainability and climate change research by uniting their research capacity in ocean sciences. Their main goal of the new institute is to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and position Chile as a global leader in marine conservation and sustainable development.
Océanos is largely leading the formation of the Chilean National Consortium of Ocean Science (el Consorcio Nacional en Ciencias del Mar), which is comprised of more than ten Chilean Institutions across the country that are involved in ocean research. The goal of this consortium is to create a network of diverse ocean researchers across Chile, sharing resources and expertise to drive forward scientific progress.
This collaboration across Chile is truly historic, and was, in-part, inspired by the unique collaboration that is PMSA. According to Dr. Sean Rogers, PMSA Secretary and BMSC Executive Director, “as the Chilean consortium was being revisited by their institutions, we learned that they took inspiration from the five-university Canadian consortium, and used our governance as a reference. The PMSA model of collaborating institutions is increasingly garnering attention as a means to support marine station platforms that will be critical to establish networks for ocean science.”
Taking International Collaboration to the Next Level
In November 2025, a Canadian research delegation representing PMSA and PRISMS was hosted by the newly forming Chilean ocean consortium. The delegation visited several of the participating Chilean universities – UC Chile, PUC Valparaíso, and UdeC Chile – as well as two marine science stations. The visits included research talks and working groups to formulate ideas and plans for future research, while also exploring the capacity for exchanges and collaborative research.
The Canadian delegation was joined by more than 50 Chilean researchers from around the country. The visit bodes well for future collaboration; there are already student exchanges between Canada and Chile planned in 2026, with much more to come. After the visits, Dr. Phillipe Tortell stated, “These new agreements mark a significant step forward in our efforts to build a large-scale ocean research program across the Pacific Rim. Canada and Chile share many ocean challenges, and with that, a responsibility to provide global leadership in the protection and sustainable development of ocean resources and coastal communities.” This visit was an important precursor to formalizing collaborations between both groups, and both countries, on a larger scale.
Making it Official: The Signing Ceremony
On November 25th, 2025, the PMSA participated in the signing of a statement of intent for collaboration with the Océanos Institute at the University of Concepcion. This official document looks to further build collaborative ocean research and education programs between the two countries.
The signing of the statement of intent by PMSA board chair Dr. David Turpin and Océanos Director Dr. Osvaldo Ulloa is a very exciting development in a relationship that has been growing steadily over the past ten years through various joint initiatives. Furthermore, it is an important step towards a broader Statement of Cooperation between PMSA and the Chilean national consortium of ocean science.
At the signing, Dr. David Turpin affirmed the importance of collaboration across institutions, stating that “Working together as a consortium allows us to do things that no individual institution can do alone. Here we see a marvelous opportunity to use basic ocean science to aid in economic development, national sovereignty, and security.”
On the same day, there was a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, which is Chile’s National science funding agency). This agreement will foster broader research collaborations between Canada and Chile in the future.
See the UdeC Press release here: Instituto Océanos UdeC suscribe cooperación científica y académica con la Pacific Marine Science Alliance de Canadá – Noticias UdeC
For The Future of One Ocean Science
Both the signing of the MoU between Canada and Chile and the statement of intent between PMSA and the Océanos Institute mark a significant step forward in collaborative and interdisciplinary ocean science and education, which will lead to deeper understanding of our oceans and how to best manage and protect them. Bringing together regional experts to work on large scale global issues is a core goal of PRISMS, driven by the collaborative partnership between PMSA and MEOPAR. Jamie Snook, executive director of MEOPAR, spoke to the significance of this next step, stating that “The Pacific Marine Science Alliance’s partnership with Chile is a powerful demonstration of how Canadian collaboration models can inspire global action. MEOPAR is proud to support this connection, which exports a proven framework for large-scale scientific cooperation. By linking our researchers with their Chilean counterparts, we are ensuring Canada remains a central architect in the future of Pacific and Polar ocean science. This strategy is central to the MEOPAR strategic plan and supporting Government of Canada priorities.”
Overall, both groups are enthusiastic about this next step forward in the developing collaboration between Canada and Chile for the future of ocean research and education, both in our Pacific Waters and Polar regions. The coming together of these two consortiums means an even stronger network, as affirmed by Dr. Osvaldo Ulloa, Director of the Océanos Institute, “[The] Chile-Canada collaboration in marine sciences and technology is essential for promoting the sustainable use of marine resources, addressing global ocean challenges, and fostering innovation in ocean stewardship.” By working together and learning from each other, our countries are bound to make great advances and drive significant change for how we observe and manage our One Ocean
Photos of Canadian delegation visit by Cristina Pérez y Jaime Romero
Photos of the signing ceremony by Claudio Concha Avello
*Canadian delegation representatives: Philippe Tortell (UBC), Mark MacLachlan (UBC), Natasha Nobell (UBC), Mary O’Connor (UBC), Rich Pawlowicz (UBC), Michael Bostock (UBC), Francis Juanes (UVic), Ruth Joy (SFU), Angelica Pena (DFO), Kohen Bauer (ONC), Philippe Archimbault (U. Laval), Sean Rogers (UCalgary / BMSC)
*Signing delegation on the 25th: David Turpin (PMSA), Paul Myers (UofA / SCOR), Ozgur Yilmaz (UBC)
*The PMSA extends a huge thank you to each researcher from Chile who showed incredible hospitality and enthusiasm for moving this collaboration further.
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