A group in Powell River is working toward establishing a science and education-based group devoted to studying and celebrating our coastal waters.
Salish Sea Advocacy group ,which has been around for about six months now, is comprised of people who are interested in environmental issues particularly related to local oceans. The group is still in its early stages and is working toward deciding how to achieve its goals of undertaking scientific research while helping to teach local youth about the wonders of nature.
Group member and marine biologist Mark Biagi said part of the group’s mandate is to help educate children about the ocean and about environmental awareness. The group sees taking youth out into the environment, to teach them the science behind nature first hand, as the best way to instill a respect for the environment. Plans to take École Côte du Soleil students out on the water to view sea lions were postponed after being thwarted by weather early this year but Biagi said this and more programs like it are in the works.
Another aspect of the group, and especially in its relation to education, is incorporating art into its programs. On field trips students will be encouraged to paint nature, compose music inspired by nature, take photographs, make videos or otherwise use art to express their vision of the environment.
“I’m kind of an oddball,” said Biagi, “in the sense that I believe that if a scientist doesn’t have some kind of an artistic bent to him then they don’t have the creativity to actually do serious, innovative science.”
The group hopes to eventually be in a position to do some serious scientific work. They are in conversation with the province and Parks Canada with regard to doing legitimate research in the strait. Again they plan to involve students and hope to be able to have them help with research and get published credit for their help with projects. If published, the students will be able to cite the research when applying for university, which should give them a head start.
Currently, the group is focusing on getting programs started with schools. Eventually, Biagi said they hope to incorporate students of digital arts into their mandate and provide scientific background and the means to go out on the water to shoot footage. They hope to get students diving as well and help them become certified so that they can do underwater research and filming.
Plans are also in the works to buy the lighthouse on Sisters Island and its other facilities. If the deal goes through the group hopes to establish a research facility on the island as a base for scientists to work from in the strait. The island is conveniently located for research north of Nanaimo and would be a valuable asset to the local scientific community, said Biagi.
The group is currently looking for funding in order to lift its programs off the ground.
