Curiosity drives Dany Dumont

Learning and sharing supports deeper connection between maritime communities and the ocean

Dr. Dany Dumont is driven by his curiosity. It’s what led him to become a researcher and it propels his work, whether he’s studying sea ice, finding common understanding across disciplines, or examining preconceived notions that impact research.

“When you dig, you realize that knowledge is often partial, imperfect, adapted to one context, but not to another,” says Dumont, who is a Professor of Physical Oceanography with Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER). He works to share his knowledge and passion, through his work, with those he mentors, and beyond.

“I think it’s extremely important that we educate, that we raise awareness about the ocean in the most general way possible, the most democratic way possible, the most accessible way possible in order to develop…  a culture of the sea and a collective respect for the environment,” says Dumont.

With the Tracer Release Experiment (TReX), Dumont and other researchers are studying dispersion in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This research can help guide responders to incidents on the water, finding people lost in the water or tracking pollutants from spills.

It’s composed of two parts: the surface and the deep-water experiments. The surface experiment involves release and tracking of Rhodamine and surface drifters. The deep-water experiment released inert chemical tracer (and some deep drifters) into subsurface waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

"If you keep the passion, the interest, you've already accomplished something."

Ocean School

This video was produced in partnership with Ocean School. Ocean School, a program of the Ocean Frontier Institute in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada, is a free, ground-breaking, inquiry-based educational experience that uses powerful storytelling techniques, immersive technologies and interactive media. Visit Ocean School: oceanschool.nfb.ca

About the Tracer Release Experiment

This ambitious field and modelling experiment is co-funded by MEOPAR and the Réseau Québec Maritime (RQM). It is a research aggregator, connecting diverse groups and approaches—from government to academia to communities. TReX’s activities also bring together all three of MEOPAR’s Cores: Observation, Prediction and Response. Read more about the project.