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Communities of Practice

MEOPAR supports Communities of Practice (CoPs) across multiple disciplines in our network. These communities help to mobilize knowledge, enrich research and encourage collaboration between academics, practitioners, policymakers and community groups. They also offer MEOPAR researchers the opportunity to stay informed about new developments and information gaps.

Working in the same field as one of our CoPs? Consider becoming a member!  

Each Community of Practice operates independently as a grassroots initiative, supported by MEOPAR. To join one of our CoPs, click on the link to connect to their websites or email their coordinators.

Canadian Coastal Resilience Forum (CCRF)

Lead: Jason Thistlethwaite
Research Manager: Andrea Minano
Coordinator: Shaieree Cottar

CCRF focuses on strengthening resilience to climate change hazards in Canada’s coastal regions by identifying policy and governance strategies for reducing and managing the consequences of natural hazards. Natural hazards pose a serious threat to public safety, livelihoods and local economies in coastal regions. The CCRF was established to facilitate knowledge-sharing across sectors, institutions and disciplines and to identify policy and governance strategies for reducing and managing the consequences of natural hazards in coastal areas.

Canadian Marine Shipping Risk Forum (CMSRF)

Leads: Ron Pelot & Stan Matwin
MEOPAR S-AIS Data Manager: Matthew Smith
Coordinator: Jennifer Steele

CMSRF explores shipping risks, bringing stakeholders together to mobilize knowledge, collaborate and network. Broadly, this CoP addresses risks to and from shipping, including challenges related to the modelling of ship movement and presence. The CoP’s activities revolve around three primary interest areas: shipping movement data, shipping traffic modelling, and shipping risk quantification and assessment.

Canadian Ocean Mapping Research and Education Network (COMREN)

Lead: Ian Church, Sylvie Daniel
Coodinator: Elaheh (Eli) Ekhveh

COMREN leverages Canada’s ocean mapping research and education community to support a sustainable blue economy. This CoP aims to develop research activities, achieve technology transfer to industry, and develop and run educational programs. COMREN operates in liaison with government agencies and international organizations, to increase Canada’s ocean and coastal mapping research, education capacity and presence, both domestically and internationally. Central to this is providing opportunities to train Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) who can help advance ocean technologies and solve problems, both applied and theoretical, with hydrospatial science and the ideas of neighbouring disciplines.

Coast and Ocean Risk Communication (CORC)

Leads: Joel Finnis, Ron Pelot, Amber Silver
CoP Community Coordinator: Cindy Marven

The Coast and Ocean Risk Communication Community of Practice (CORC CoP) is a forum for people and organizations interested in building knowledge and best practices around communicating risk of coastal or marine hazards such as marine pollution, extreme weather events, tsunamis and earthquakes, sea level change, coastal flooding, coastal erosion, storm surge, sea-ice change, or others. The intent of CORC CoP is to improve marine and coastal risk communication by inviting people from local and indigenous communities, researchers, emergency planners, policy-makers, and marine industries to share knowledge and experience and to learn about approaches and best practices for communicating risks relating to marine and coastal hazards affecting people in coastal environments.

Ocean Decade Community of Practice

Please note that this CoP is not active anymore and that MEOPAR has decided to refocus its effort to remains active in supporting and encouraging Canadian involvement in the UN Decade. Please visit our webpage "MEOPAR's Ocean decade Activities" using the link below.

Canadian NEMO Ocean Modeling Forum (NEMO)

Leads: Paul Myers, Bill Merryfield
Coordinator: Clark Pennelly

The Canadian Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean (NEMO) Modeling Forum unites the academic community and federal government scientists and other groups using the model, to enhance collaboration, information sharing and knowledge transfer, as well as increase HQP opportunities.

Network on Coastal, Ocean and Lake Optics Remote Sensing (NetCOLOR)

Leads: Emmanuel Devred, Anders Knudby, Maycira Costa
Research Assistant: Claudine Ouellet, Philippe Massicotte

NetCOLOR is a network of Canadian experts and end-users in the field of aquatic colour remote sensing established in 2014 through funding from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Its main purpose is to provide a means for researchers and other people working in the field of aquatic remote sensing to create an efficient and united centre of expertise through the development of a national strategy for research, training and dissemination of water colour products.

Ocean Acidification (OA)

Leads: Brent Else & Helen Gurney-Smith
Community Coordinator: Austin Pugh

The Ocean Acidification Community of Practice is an interdisciplinary group dedicated to sharing information and resources related to ocean acidification. The OA CoP strives to provide a space for discussion and co-production of ocean acidification knowledge across Canada. Members consist of individuals from government, aquaculture, fisheries, academia, and Indigenous community leadership, as well as students and members of the public. The OA CoP aims to connect and coordinate, across sectors, to share expertise and knowledge; to identify pressing needs for ocean acidification research and to create a collaborative environment for groups affected by ocean acidification

Ocean Data Management

Lead: Mike Smit

The Community of Practice on Ocean Data Management connects Canadian ocean data centres to share and mobilize expertise and best practices, promote cooperation and alignment, and develop a shared vision for ocean data management in Canada. Conceived by its members at a 2014 Data Management Workshop, and supported by MEOPAR’s Data Management project, the community is currently comprised of organizations from government, academic, and NGO sectors.

Ocean Gliders Canada

Leads: Brad deYoung & Frederic Cyr
CEOTR Manager: Richard Davis
Ocean Gliders Canada aims to encourage cooperation, communication and collaboration between Canadian researchers interested in ocean observations using gliders.

Ocean Gliders Canada supports interdisciplinary research and development at Canadian universities, provides training and work experience to develop the next generation of ocean researchers, and mobilizes scientific knowledge, technology and people through cross-sector engagement.

MEOPAR Community of Practice Program at a Glance

Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network’s (MEOPAR) Community of Practice (CoP) Program at a Glance: Membership, Funding and Accomplishments.

The Community of Practice Program began investigating how to initiate CoPs within the ocean sector in 2016, and have come a long way since then. In 2017, MEOPAR started offering funding under the Core Research Program Areas (Observation, Prediction and Response). Then in 2019, it developed a CoP Funding Program to expand the scope to its current form, which supports 10 uniquely innovative CoPs in the ocean sector. 

Check out the infographic to find out what’s been accomplished since the program’s inception. 

MEOPAR-supported CoPs help connect researchers and highly qualified personnel (HQP; i.e., students, and early career practitioners), in concert with industry, government and community partners, in addition to other external individuals and organizations. Together, members share expertise and opportunities to learn as CoPs provide a place for discussion and co-production of knowledge and innovative projects. 

View and Download CoP Info at a Glance

MEOPAR’s Marine-Focused Communities of Practice Make Lasting Impacts Through Science Communication, Public Engagement and Knowledge Sharing Strategies

This article identifies knowledge sharing (KS) activities and knowledge management systems (KMS) applicable to integrated ocean research and responses. Through case studies, this article qualitatively assesses five of MEOPAR’s most mature Communities of Practice (CoPs) to evaluate science communication and public engagement strategies; knowledge sharing methods to inform scientific decision-making; and ways to develop innovative and solution-driven approaches.

Read the Article

Guidance and Best Practices Based on MEOPAR’s CoP Program

This document outlines guidance for other individuals and organizations looking to establish CoPs, based on MEOPAR’s CoP Program.

Download Report

Looking to start a CoP? Review our informational flyer on best practices for establishing a community of practice, including the dos and don’ts.
Vous souhaitez créer une communauté de pratique ? Consultez notre dépliant d’information sur les meilleures pratiques pour établir une communauté de pratique, y compris les choses à faire et à ne pas faire.

Télécharger le dépliant d’information