Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Centre for Coastal Studies

Related Departments

Faculty of Environment
Faculty of Science

Home / About the Centre

  • Mobilizing knowledge. Building partnerships...

  • Facilitating interdisciplinary research...

  • Linking science with local knowledge to affect policy...

  • Sharing success stories...

  • Understanding complex problems...

  • Building capacity. Seeking solutions...

  • Engaging communities...

  • Facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue...

Interdisciplinary Research

The Centre for Coastal Science and Management focuses on coastal and marine ecosystems, and resource conservation and sustainability through collaborative research projects and community engagement at local, national and international levels.

The members of the Centre are an interdisciplinary mix of scientists and graduate students representing natural and social sciences. Together with a diverse group of community partners, including First Nations and all levels of government, NGOs, industry and other academic institutions, the Centre addresses the science and local knowledge underlying policy and management decisions for important and critical issues and challenges confronting coastal British Columbia and Canada.

Some examples of projects where the Centre seeks solutions include:

  • Shellfish and finfish aquaculture practices
  • Fraser sockeye populations
  • Adapting to climate change
  • Salmonid genomics
  • Selective fishing
  • Marine biodiversity and conservation
  • Coastal ecosystem restoration
  • Freshwater
  • Renewable energy policy

Community Engagement and Public Awareness

In addition to collaborative research, the Centre emphasizes community engagement, and public awareness. The Centre uses a variety of formats to share research outcomes and information and facilitates knowledge exchange between academics and communities. The Centre does this through workshops in various coastal locations with associated proceedings and video.  The Centre also hosts think tanks, lecture series and public forums. Some examples include the Speaking for the Salmon series of workshops and think tanks; the Canada Ocean Lecture and Planet Under Pressure lecture series; and the Green Energy Dialogues.