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MEOPAR is excited to be welcoming two new associate scientific directors: Dr. Brent Else (University of Calgary) and Dr. Fanny Noisette (Université du Québec à Rimouski). Both have been members of the MEOPAR Network for the last several years and are accomplished researchers with demonstrated commitment to collaborative, multidisciplinary research that includes diverse communities. Else and Noisette were appointed by the MEOPAR Board of Directors following Ron Pelot’s departure after over a decade as Associate Scientific Director.

“MEOPAR’s overarching role is to enable a coordinated, evidence-based approach to the growing challenges of Canada’s marine environment. A succession of recent events show that this is more important than ever. That’s why I’m delighted to have Fanny and Brent come on board to expand, diversify, and rejuvenate our scientific leadership. There’s work to be done!” said Scientific Director Doug Wallace.

Dr. Fanny Noisette

Fanny Noisette is an associate professor in biological oceanography at Institut des sciences de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski. Her expertise focuses on the impact of environmental changes on coastal ecosystems. She is the leader of the UNESCO Chair in integrated analysis of marine systems, connecting academics, local partners and society in tackling equity and inclusion challenges related to the sustainability of the oceans. She has been part of the MEOPAR Network since joining in 2016 as a postdoctoral researcher. She received a MEOPAR Early Career Faculty Award in 2019.

“MEOPAR is a formidable platform for connecting ocean researchers across Canada and for accelerating career development. I joined MEOPAR as an early career researcher and benefitted firsthand from the training and support MEOPAR provides to Canada’s ocean science community. I am very proud of belonging to such a visionary network and very eager to help in developing new strategies and opportunities to build capacities in Canada for more inclusive, equitable and sustainable ocean research community,” said Noisette.

Dr. Brent Else

Brent Else is associate professor in the department of Geography at the University of Calgary, and associate director of the Arctic Institute of North America. With MEOPAR, he received an Early Career Faculty Award and later became deputy lead of the Environmental Change theme and a member of the Research Management Committee. He is also co-lead of the MEOPAR-supported Ocean Acidification Community of Practice.

“MEOPAR has provided me with many opportunities to build my career and carry out exciting marine research with partners and collaborators. As associate scientific director, I am looking forward to creating more of these opportunities for Canadian researchers and coastal communities,” said Else.

Both have provided considerable effort and vision in preparing MEOPAR’s submission for the Strategic Science Fund, helping to develop the proposal for the next phase of the Network’s work on a coordinated Canadian approach to ocean research.

From left to right: Rodrigo Menafra (Managing Director), Brent Else, Doug Wallace, and Fanny Noisette