Open & Inclusive
Our goal is to build a virtual home for anyone interested in the intersection of oceans and AI, whether they’re a tech enthusiast, an ocean advocate, a student, a professional, or simply curious about how AI is influencing the future of our oceans.
Unlike traditional research networks, this community of practice is designed to be open, accessible and collaborative—a place for conversations that cover a wide array of topics. We welcome discussions spanning the entire landscape of modern artificial intelligence, from foundational generative AI and data management to machine learning, ethical technology, and emerging trends.
Our approach to the community was informed by engagement with organizations across Canada’s ocean sector. During these discussions, one thing became clear: there is no single AI journey. The ecosystem is diverse. People are at entirely different stages of their AI journeys, with vastly different resources and needs. We knew that matching them through some top-down, artificial arrangement wouldn’t work.
Changing Face of Ocean Tech
There is also the changing role of technology in ocean science to consider. Not long ago, highly technical work was left exclusively to specialists. But today, Canadian organizations are increasingly looking for people who bring deep domain knowledge, a love for the ocean and its ecosystems, and who also have a practical understanding of how AI tools might be used to assist their work.
Recognizing how difficult it can be to navigate today’s AI landscape—there’s an overwhelming amount of information, much of which is fragmented or completed disconnected from the marine world—we wanted to offer an alternative: a free, organized space where scattered ideas are brought together, and where people are encouraged to share real-world, practical showcases of AI specifically in the ocean domain.
To be clear: we’re not here to push AI on anyone. In our conversations, we sometimes hear from organizations that are hesitant to adopt these tools, or who have made a deliberate, thoughtful decision to forgo the use of artificial intelligence. Their concerns and rationales are incredibly important, and these perspectives are necessary to have a complete and honest conversation. A diversity of views helps all of us learn how to navigate this technology more responsibly and ethically.
A Community Resource
But most importantly, we’re building a community, not a resource storage room. It’s easy to build a digital warehouse of files and tools, but a PDF can’t mentor a student or collaborate on a project. We’re building a place where you can find the people behind the ideas and skills. By cultivating a collaborative culture for ocean practitioners and researchers, and by bringing people together through regular online and in-person events, we are seeking to build something far more enduring than just a repository of data.
Whether you’re taking your first steps into AI, looking for a collaborator, or wanting to share your perspective on the ethical challenges ahead, our door is open.
