Benjamin Richaud is a Ph.D. candidate at Dalhousie University studying the variability of biogeochemistry in the Arctic Ocean using a numerical modelling approach. His research examines the impacts of biogeochemistry and sea-ice on carbon dioxide exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere. Benjamin shares with us his background and interests in marine carbonate chemistry, chemical oceanography, and perspectives on Canada’s role in marine carbon research. “I have always had an interest in the ocean,” Benjamin says. Benjamin grew up in France, spending holidays in Brittany, the western tip of France that dives into the Atlantic, and Provence, a region in the southeast of France that borders the Mediterranean Sea. Spending time near the sea fostered his interest in marine science and sailing early on, but also made him aware of climate change. Benjamin says as a teenager he started to think about the consequences of climate change for both his generation and future generations. These experiences drove him to pursue his interests in oceanography and he earned an Engineering Diploma from ENSTA Paris (specializing in mechanical and naval engineering, and physical oceanography) and completed, in parallel, an M.Sc. in physical oceanography and renewable energies from Polytechnique Graduate School in France. He also took a gap year before his M.Sc. at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (USA), where he conducted climatology and observation-based research, and then started working at OpenHydro in Ireland doing resource assessments for tidal turbines. Benjamin then applied for a Ph.D. program at Dalhousie University with Drs. Katja Fennel and Eric Oliver. The project he works on examines biogeochemical variability and extreme events in the Arctic using numerical models. Benjamin said he was intrigued at the prospect of using modeling studies which he describes as an “amazing complementary tool to observations” to study carbonate chemistry and the role of sea ice in controlling air-sea carbon dioxide fluxes. “Ice is a full ecosystem on its own,” Benjamin continues. The life inside and surrounding ice adds a layer of complexity that is usually discounted in models, he explains. But the density of bacteria and phytoplankton can be very high, especially in brine channels and directly below sea ice. For example, long strings or chains of diatoms are commonly found attached to the bottom of the ice. “It’s fascinating to think that organisms can thrive in such cold and salty environments,” Benjamin adds. Benjamin’s research seeks to account for the life and chemistry that occurs in and around sea-ice in models of carbon dioxide fluxes between the ocean and the atmosphere (air-sea carbon dioxide fluxes). These models are important to both national and global carbon budgets, and help us predict how and where atmospheric carbon will be taken up by the oceans. His research thus far indicates that this biogeochemistry and sea ice life enhances carbon dioxide uptake, at least on regional and seasonal scales. Some of the tools, equations, and theoretical framework that Benjamin has developed can also be applied to a relatively new field of study on ocean alkalinization. Alkalinization seeks to increase the buffering capacity of seawater and increase its carbon sink without increasing seawater acidity. This is usually done through a geoengineering process, but it is also naturally occurring in polar seas, Benjamin explains. When sea-ice forms, it naturally decreases the ratio of total alkalinity (TA) to dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the underlying waters. This reduces the ability of the oceans to store carbon dioxide and could even lead to outgassing of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during winter. Then, in spring, as the sea-ice melts, it releases the TA back into the water, leading to stronger uptakes of carbon dioxide while buffering the co-occurring acidification. “Ocean alkalinization is the same idea,” Benjamin explains. By increasing seawater alkalinity (TA), the oceans can take up more carbon dioxide, but retain their buffering capacity, meaning that acidification (a by-product of added carbon dioxide in seawater) is avoided. The concept of ocean alkalinization has therefore drawn the interest of researchers wanting to explore ways of increasing seawater alkalinity as a possible means of mitigating ocean acidification. The sea-ice systems that Benjamin studies might allow him to better understand these processes on a larger scale, as well as how sea-ice life might impact these cycles. For example, Benjamin points out that despite seasonal effects and variability, there is still increasing sea-ice melt occurring, which will impact carbon sinks, especially in the Arctic. Benjamin says that one of the take-homes of his research is that it demonstrates the strong impact the ocean has on our lives. “People in Canada, even those not close to the oceans, will still be impacted [by changes to the carbon cycle and by climate change].” His work will help us understand carbon sinks in the Arctic, which has a direct impact on Canada’s carbon budget. There are also many social impacts of air-sea carbon dioxide fluxes to consider, Benjamin points out. Everything from our lifestyles, such as how much carbon we can use, to policy and social outcomes, will be impacted by ocean acidification and climate change. Even policy impacts and efforts towards Truth and Reconciliation will become harder, as Indigenous communities are put under even more strain due to the impacts of climate change. And delaying action will only make these social impacts harder to address, he concludes. But while the future might be full of challenges, Benjamin adds that there is a lot to be excited about in Canadian climate change research. He is part of Canada’s Marine Carbon Cohort, a group of students and early career researchers that work together to better assess the role of Canada’s oceans on carbon sinks and sources. Some of his favourite aspects of the group are the opportunities to interact, build skills, work together, and learn from other students, postdocs, and PIs (Principle Investigators). He says they build their knowledge by pushing each other forward. The group is part of a larger community at the forefront of climate change research. Benjamin is excited to be part of this research field right now, as he says there is an expected boom in our knowledge of [carbonate] chemistry. New technologies, such as improved biogeochemical sensors and oceanographic equipment (like the northwest North Atlantic BGC [biogeochemical] Argo array overseen by Dr. Katja Fennel and colleagues), will improve our understanding of biogeochemistry and help constrain models. Alkalinization is based on new technology, and could lead to new solutions and knowledge that could mitigate the effects of ocean acidification and climate change. “It’s really motivating to know that this work is at the forefront of the biggest challenge of the 21st Century,” Benjamin says. To learn more about Benjamin and his research, visit his website. To learn more about the Canadian BGC Argo initiative, visit their website.

Here are some of the latest happenings in the world of ocean acidification in Canada and beyond! DEADLINE EXTENDED to July 30th - We’re Hiring! Ocean Acidification Community of Practice Coordinator MEOPAR is searching for a dedicated and self-motivated individual to facilitate and co-ordinate activities for the Canadian Ocean Acidification Community of Practice. The aims of the Community are to facilitate the uptake and exchange of information and data related to ocean acidification, collate and promote best practices, use online platforms to facilitate knowledge mobilization, and disseminate activities through webinars and workshops. Find out more here. Upcoming Webinar Ocean Acidification in the Gulf of Maine: Issue and Solutions Date: Friday, July 30 Time: 12:30 – 1:30pm Location: No physical location, online via Zoom Admission: Free to the public, registration IS required Join us for a one-hour panel discussion on ocean and coastal acidification’s impact on scallops and softshell clams, methods of remediation, and future projections for the Gulf of Maine. This online talk will be moderated by Dr. Libby Jewett, Director of the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program. Panelists include, Dr. Samantha Siedlecki, University of Connecticut; Dr. Nichole Price, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences; and Dr. Robert J Holmberg, Downeast Institute. REGISTER HERE Save the Date – OA Week (September 13 – 17, 2021) Cross posted from the OA Info Exchange: “Ocean Acidification Week will be back in 2021! Last September, GOA-ON launched OA Week as a response to the postponement of conferences and events due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We received such positive responses that GOA-ON, in partnership with NOAA OAP, IAEA OA-ICC, and IOC-UNESCO, is bringing OA Week back this year. We will bring you even more information and sessions from the regional hubs, more presentations by plenary speakers, and more conversations about global ocean acidification research. Please visit the new OA Week 2021 webpage for more details on the event. This webpage will be updated regularly as we continue planning the meeting. We also need your help: please suggest topics for the Community Discussion Sessions. Think of Community Discussion Sessions as short workshops, listening sessions, interactive presentations, or other platforms for promoting conversations about issues that are relevant to the OA community. Even if you cannot commit to leading a session, we'd still like your thoughts on what topics you'd like to see covered during OA Week 2021. Share your suggestions by commenting on the post on the OA Info Exchange. Finally, please share this news with your professional networks, and most importantly, don't forget to save the dates: Monday 13 September - Friday 17 September, 2021! If you have other questions about OA Week 2021, please contact us at secretariat@goa-on.org.” Call for student volunteer – Blue Carbon and Eelgrass Dr. Kristina Boerder (Dalhousie University): “Looking for a summer student volunteer to work with me & some awesome folks on a novel project exploring blue carbon in eelgrass beds and coastal wetlands. Can be remote but ideally located in Nova Scotia (fieldwork!). Experience with GIS and imaging software a plus.” Find more info here. In the News “This craft brewery is using carbon capture to reuse CO2 in its brews” Source: CBC News Calgary Read the full article here. New Paper of Interest Tai, Travis C., U. Rashid Sumaila, William W. L. Cheung. 2021. Ocean Acidification Amplifies Multi-Stressor Impacts on Global Marine Invertebrate Fisheries. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8:596644. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.596644 Have a news item you'd like us to feature? Email coordinator@oceanacidification.ca!

Here are some of the latest happenings in the world of ocean acidification in Canada and beyond! New on the Blog Research Recap: New Paper: Carbonate dissolution in response to bottom-water acidification in Gulf of St. Lawrence Lead author, William Nesbitt, gives us an inside perspective on a new paper studying carbonate dissolution and the impacts of acidification in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Read the full post here. We’re Hiring! Ocean Acidification Community of Practice Coordinator MEOPAR is searching for a dedicated and self-motivated individual to facilitate and co-ordinate activities for the Canadian Ocean Acidification Community of Practice. The aims of the Community are to facilitate the uptake and exchange of information and data related to ocean acidification, collate and promote best practices, use online platforms to facilitate knowledge mobilization, and disseminate activities through webinars and workshops. Find out more here. New Video – The Ocean Organ From The University of Plymouth Creative Associates, The Ocean Organ is a collaborative visual art installation designed to teach people about ocean acidification and ocean chemistry (with Kate Crawfurd and Jason Hall-Spencer). To learn more, watch the video here. In the News “Ocean Visions’ Experts to Advise/Evaluate Innovation Tackling Ocean Acidification Pilot project will develop new electrochemical approach to mitigate ocean acidification and enhance ocean-based carbon sequestration” Source: Ocean Visions Read the full article here. New Paper of Interest Cornwall, Christopher E., Steeve Comeau, Niklas A. Kornder, Chris T. Perry, Ruben van Hooidonk, Thomas M. DeCarlo, Morgan S. Pratchett, Kristen D. Anderson, Nicola Browne, Robert Carpenter, Guillermo Diaz-Pulido, Juan P. D’Olivo, Steve S. Doo, Joana Figueiredo, Sofia A. V. Fortunato, Emma Kennedy, Coulson A. Lantz, Malcolm T. McCulloch, Manuel González-Rivero, Verena Schoepf, Scott G. Smithers, and Ryan J. Lowe. 2021. Global declines in coral reef calcium carbonate production under ocean acidification and warming. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118:e2015265118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2015265118 Have a news item you'd like us to feature? Email coordinator@oceanacidification.ca!

The Gulf of St. Lawrence is a large, partially enclosed sea that connects the St. Lawrence Estuary to the North Atlantic Ocean and is home to a significant portion of Canada’s fisheries. Less dense, warmer waters sit near the surface, with denser, cooler bottom-waters intruding from the North Atlantic, leading to a permanently stratified water column. This stratification allows for metabolic carbon dioxide (a by-product of the microbial degradation of organic matter) to accumulate in these bottom-waters, causing them to become progressively more acidic. Consequently, the bottom-waters in the Gulf of St. Lawrence have reached pH levels expected for the global surface ocean by the end of the century, providing a natural analogue for studying future effects of ocean acidification. Understanding how ocean and coastal acidification impacts the preservation of carbonate minerals found below these bottom waters provides important clues that not only indicate how organisms with calcium carbonate skeletons may be impacted, but also how the buffering capacity provided these sediments will continue to change over time. William Nesbitt, Scientific Coordinator for the TReX Deep Experiment (CERC.OCEAN Lab at Dalhousie University), and lead-author of a new study examining potential dissolution of carbonate sediments in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, was finishing his undergraduate degree in Geological Sciences at Queen’s University when he had the opportunity to attend an oceanographic field course in Bermuda. It was while snorkeling amongst the unique cup reefs and underwater cities of corals that he became inspired to pursue research in carbonate chemistry and oceanography. William completed an M.Sc. in oceanography at McGill where he examined how oceanographic conditions and acidification in the Gulf of St. Lawrence have influenced carbonate minerals in the underlying sediments. William gives us some perspectives on the results of his research, published in the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences in January. “I am an aqueous geochemist and oceanographer with research interests in carbon cycling and the carbonate-carbonic acid system. I conducted my M.Sc. research under the supervision of Dr. Alfonso Mucci at McGill University where I investigated the effects of bottom water acidification in the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the preservation of detrital carbonate minerals in the seafloor sediments,” Mr. Nesbitt says. “The coastal ocean is the most productive marine environment on the planet, making it at particular risk of eutrophication from the increased flux of land-derived nutrients and the resulting increase of organic matter generation.” Eutrophication presents numerous consequences to marine ecosystems, such as the depletion of dissolved oxygen (and the creation of oxygen minimum zones) and acidification driven by the accumulation of metabolic carbon dioxide, which can exacerbate ocean acidification in the coastal ocean. “When [eutrophication] occurs in a stratified water column, such is the case in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the increased load of organic matter can lead to the depletion of dissolved oxygen and the accumulation of metabolic carbon dioxide. The generation of the latter makes coastal environments particularly vulnerable to acidification, as the isolated bottom waters are pre-acidified from when they were previously in contact with the atmosphere. Therefore, adding metabolic carbon dioxide to these bottom waters drives the effects of ocean acidification beyond that of the anthropogenic atmospheric contribution. The preservation of carbonate minerals is greatly impacted by the acidification of seawater as it drives their dissolution.” Mr. Nesbitt says that his research highlights the connections between biological and chemical processes when it comes to ocean acidification and the ocean’s ability to neutralize absorbed anthropogenic carbon dioxide. It is well established that shelled organisms that build their skeletons from calcium carbonate are vulnerable to ocean acidification, but what happens if these materials dissolve more quickly? “Beyond the ecological importance of carbonate minerals as the material many marine invertebrates (bivalves, corals etc.) precipitate to construct their exoskeleton, their dissolution provides a critical short-term buffering method and sink of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the ocean.” “Beyond the ecological importance of carbonate minerals as the material many marine invertebrates (bivalves, corals etc.) precipitate to construct their exoskeleton, their dissolution provides a critical short-term buffering method and sink of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the ocean.” In other words, as acidification continues over time, carbonates will experience more dissolution, meaning that there will be less material left to buffer against carbon dioxide driven changes in pH. “The combination of carbonate minerals being biologically important as well as acting as a sort of anti-acid tablet for the ocean is what got me interested in studying the carbonate system in an acidifying ocean,” Mr. Nesbitt says. But, there have been few studies which have documented acidification-driven carbonate dissolution in natural settings, or over longer modern time-series. “Several previous studies had explored carbonate precipitation/dissolution and calculated rates in controlled, lab-based environments but very few had quantified them in a natural setting,” Mr. Nesbitt explains. “The pH of the bottom waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence have decreased by 0.3-0.4 units, which is proportionate to the variation expected for the global surface ocean by the end of the century. This provided us a perfect natural laboratory to investigate the effects of these conditions on the preservation of carbonate minerals.” Mr. Nesbitt says that the main questions they wanted to address were: Can we detect evidence of diagenetic dissolution of carbonate minerals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence sediments? If so, can we quantify the magnitude of dissolution and calculate dissolution rates? Have carbonate dissolution rates changed temporally? To answer these questions, Mr. Nesbitt and his co-author, Dr. Alfonso Mucci, explored samples dating back several years. “We derived evidence of diagenetic dissolution from the analyses of pore water chemistry and solid sediments sampled from three box cores recovered over a 13-year time frame (2003, 2013, 2016) at a specific station (Station 18) to the south of Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Pore-water pH and alkalinity measurements (along with phosphate and silica) were used to calculate saturation states with respect to calcite (one of the main polymorphs of carbonate). Pore-water calcium concentrations were measured to compliment saturation state calculations,” Mr. Nesbitt writes. “This showed that when undersaturation occurred within the pore-waters, a significant increase in calcium was observed, suggesting that active dissolution is occurring.” Other measurements, including manganese and iron concentrations of the pore-waters, also provided information on the depth of oxygen in the column, or box cores, indicating the extent of vertical dissolution. Inorganic carbon content was also measured in each sediment core to quantify, through an integration method, the amount of carbonate that had already dissolved and to calculate dissolution rates. There were three key outcomes of this research: Carbonates within the sediments at the bottom of the Gulf of St. Lawrence are actively dissolving. “Pore-water chemistry provides strong evidence of active calcium carbonate dissolution in the sediments of the Gulf of St. Lawrence,” Mr. Nesbitt explains. Just below the sediment water interface (the top of the seafloor), they observed an increase in calcium concentration in conjunction with decreasing pH and carbonate saturation state, suggesting active dissolution is occurring. The carbonate deficit in solid sediment content within the first few centimeters of the core relative to constant concentrations at depth compellingly supports the pore-water data. Furthermore, the calculated magnitude of carbonate deficit can be paired with sedimentation rates to quantify the rate of dissolution. The rate at which carbonates are dissolving in the sediments of the Gulf of St. Lawrence is increasing over time. “Calculated dissolution rates in each core shows that dissolution has significantly accelerated in the sediments of the Gulf of St. Lawrence between 2003 and 2016,” Mr. Nesbitt indicates. The results of this study are critical to understanding how such an economically and ecologically important Canadian water body, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, will be impacted as ocean acidification progresses. “Often when we hear about the impacts of ocean acidification in the media it is focused on tropical reef environments. Our study provides an example of a Canadian environment that has become progressively more acidic on a decade time scale and quantifies the impacts of this change on a crucial mineral to the marine system.” Mr. Nesbitt says that one of the biggest things he learned from conducting this research was the interconnectedness biological, physical, and chemical properties of the ocean. Changes to one part of the system can have huge impacts elsewhere in the system. “We see the ocean as a vastly large system, but it’s very sensitive,” he points out. He says that his work has made him realise the significant impact humans have had on our oceans, and that our connections and reliance on the ocean means that all of us will be affected by the consequences of these anthropogenic changes. The timeline of the study (13 years) demonstrates the drastic changes he observed have happened in his lifetime. He suggests that this rapid rate of change means that mitigation and adaptation will be important priorities moving forward. Mr. Nesbitt is motivated to continue research in oceanography. He says that the project not only allowed him to pursue his interests in chemical oceanography, but also allowed him to develop a new skillset and geochemical tools that can be applied to other projects. “Following my MSc, I worked as a research assistant in the Department of Biology at McGill on the IDRC-NutriFish project, exploring micronutrient utilization in East African fisheries. Now I am the scientific coordinator for MEOPAR’s Tracer Release Deep Experiment (TReX) where I oversee the coordination of logistics and planning of the deep release experiment.” Mr. Nesbitt plans to start a Ph.D. program next year, where he hopes to continue to conduct research on the oceanic carbon cycle and forecasting the impacts of ocean acidification. Read Nesbitt and Mucci, 2021 here (journal access required): Direct evidence of sediment carbonate dissolution in response to bottom-water acidification in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada Or Request a full text on Research Gate here. Citation: Nesbitt, W. A. and A. Mucci. 2021. Direct evidence of sediment carbonate dissolution in response to bottom-water acidification in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 58:84–92. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2020-0020 Acknowledgments: Thanks to William Nesbitt for his virtual “in-person” interview and written responses. To learn more about William and his research, please visit his Research Gate profile.

Here’s what’s new from the MEOPAR OA Community of Practice this month: June Quarterly Newsletter New Blog Posts We're Hiring! Past Events - World Oceans Week June Quarterly Newsletter We released our June Quarterly Newsletter on June 1st! Take a look to see new resources, webinars, blog posts, and more! Find and download our June Newsletter here. New Blog Posts Here are our latest posts from May and June: Scientist Spotlights: Learn more about the scientists leading the way in new ocean acidification research across Canada and beyond. Scientist Spotlight: Dr. Ana Franco, Postdoctoral Fellow, UBC Scientist Spotlight: Samantha Jones – Blending Science and Poetry Scientist Spotlight: Fiona Beaty, Ph.D. Candidate, UBC OA News (You Could Use): Find out the latest happenings in the world of OA in Canada and beyond, including new resources, papers, and news articles. June 24, 2021 June 17, 2021 June 10, 2021 June 3, 2021 May 27, 2021 May 20, 2021 May 13, 2021 May 6, 2021 We're Hiring! Ocean Acidification Community of Practice Co-ordinator MEOPAR is searching for a dedicated and self-motivated individual to facilitate and co-ordinate activities for the Canadian Ocean Acidification Community of Practice. The aims of the Community are to facilitate the uptake and exchange of information and data related to ocean acidification, collate and promote best practices, use online platforms to facilitate knowledge mobilization, and disseminate activities through webinars and workshops. The co-ordinator would ideally be located at the University of Calgary. Remote work, or a posting at the St. Andrews Biological Station in New Brunswick can also be considered. The selected candidate would work closely with Community members from stakeholder groups, academia, non-profit and governance groups. This is a full-time position, funded by MEOPAR until Oct. 2022. We would very much appreciate it if you could circulate this email amongst your network to help us reach the largest pool of candidates. Please see attached PDF for full job description and posting details. Apply online at: https://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/7075278-research-associate-department-of-geography-faculty-of-arts World Oceans Week Events The OA Community of Practice participated in two webinars for World Oceans Week on June 8th and 10th, which featured a video of Samantha Jones's Ocean Acidification poems. Find the webinar recordings here: June 8, 2021: IMPLEMENTING UN SDG 14.3—PROTECTING COMMUNITIES AND LIVELIHOODS FROM THE THREAT OF A CHANGING OCEAN (Co-hosted by the OA Alliance and The Ocean Foundation) June 10, 2021: ADVANCING CLIMATE AND OCEAN ACTION THROUGH ART, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH (Co-hosted by the OA Alliance and Peace Boat US) Have an idea for content? Want to contribute? We’re always looking for ideas and feedback! Email us at coordinator@oceanacidification.ca! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

We're Hiring! Ocean Acidification Community of Practice Co-ordinator MEOPAR is searching for a dedicated and self-motivated individual to facilitate and co-ordinate activities for the Canadian Ocean Acidification Community of Practice. The aims of the Community are to facilitate the uptake and exchange of information and data related to ocean acidification, collate and promote best practices, use online platforms to facilitate knowledge mobilization, and disseminate activities through webinars and workshops. The co-ordinator would ideally be located at the University of Calgary. Remote work, or a posting at the St. Andrews Biological Station in New Brunswick can also be considered. The selected candidate would work closely with Community members from stakeholder groups, academia, non-profit and governance groups. This is a full-time position, funded by MEOPAR until Oct. 2022. We would very much appreciate it if you could circulate this email amongst your network to help us reach the largest pool of candidates. Please see attached PDF for full job description and posting details. Apply online at: https://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/7075278-research-associate-department-of-geography-faculty-of-arts Have an idea for content? Want to contribute? We’re always looking for ideas and feedback! Email us at coordinator@oceanacidification.ca! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Here are some of the latest happenings in the world of ocean acidification in Canada and beyond! New on the Blog Scientist Spotlight: Dr. Ana Franco, Postdoctoral Fellow, UBC Dr. Ana Franco is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of British Columbia with Professor Phil Tortell in the MEOPAR project OxyNet: A network to examine ocean deoxygenation trends and impacts. She is also an expert in ocean acidification, having worked on the topic since her undergraduate degree. Dr. Franco shares with us her expertise, research, and past experiences that led her to become an expert in ocean acidification and oceanography. Read the full post here. Upcoming Webinar "Sustainability and systemisation in the ocean sector" Tuesday, June 29, 2021 7:00 p.m. Newfoundland Time Accomplished business leader, academic and Memorial alumna Dr. Sue Molloy, M.Eng.’01, PhD’07 – the president of Nova Scotia-based Glas Ocean Electric – is delivering the 2021 Canada Ocean Lecture Series. Initiated in 2006, the Canada Ocean Lecture Series is a joint initiative between the registered charity Shorefast, Memorial University and other partners. The aim of the lecture series is to create awareness of Canada’s vast marine environment and its importance to Canadians. To date, lectures have been held on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and in central Canada. Please note, this is a virtual session. All are welcome to attend! TO RSVP, PLEASE VISIT: https://event-wizard.com/canadaoceanlectureseries2021/0/register/ New Resource for Educators From NOAA’s Teaching Climate series, “Ocean Acidification” is an educational resource designed for educators of middle school – college level classrooms. Learn more about this educational resource here. In the News “B.C. scientists look at climate change impacts on aquaculture production” Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin Read the full article here. New Paper of Interest Mongin, Mathieu, Mark E Baird, Andrew Lenton, Craig Neill and John Akl. 2021. Reversing ocean acidification along the Great Barrier Reef using alkalinity injection. Environmental Research Letters, 16:064068. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac002d Have a news item you'd like us to feature? Email coordinator@oceanacidification.ca!

Here are some of the latest happenings in the world of ocean acidification in Canada and beyond! UCalgary ocean acidification poet takes the world stage for Oceans Week University of Calgary’s own, Samantha Jones (Ph.D Candidate, Geography), was interviewed last week for World Oceans Day on CBC Radio Calgary’s The Homestretch to share her poem, “Ocean Acidification”, and her experiences combining science and poetry on the world stage! Listen to the interview here (~8 min). Read our Scientist Spotlight interview with Samantha here. New Resource From the OA Alliance: “The OA Alliance is excited to unveil our updated website, complete with a new resources section including the OA Action Plan toolkit, posters and infographics, publications, webinars, workshops, events and more!!” Visit their new website: oaalliance.org In the News “Petrifying Climate Change” Source: Hakai Magazine Read the full article here. New Paper of Interest Peijnenburg, Katja T. C. A., Arie W. Janssen, Deborah Wall-Palmer, Erica Goetze, Amy E. Maas, Jonathan A. Todd, and Ferdinand Marlétaz. 2020. The origin and diversification of pteropods precede past perturbations in the Earth’s carbon cycle. PNAS, 117:25609-25617. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1920918117 Have a news item you'd like us to feature? Email coordinator@oceanacidification.ca!

Dr. Ana Franco is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of British Columbia with Professor Phil Tortell in the MEOPAR project OxyNet: A network to examine ocean deoxygenation trends and impacts. She is also an expert in ocean acidification, having worked on the topic since her undergraduate degree. Dr. Franco shares with us her expertise, research, and past experiences that led her to become an expert in ocean acidification and oceanography. What is your background? At the end of my bachelor studies in oceanography, almost by chance, I had the opportunity to participate as an undergrad in an ocean acidification (OA) cruise in the Pacific coast of Canada-US-Mexico. I had never participated in a cruise or had heard about OA before (this was 2007). I’m not even sure that I understood English very well at the time, but there I go to spend 30+ days immersed in ocean acidification science of the highest quality. Intimidating! The science from that cruise was a turning point for OA research (Feely et al., 2008), but the main result, from my own personal perspective, is that I haven’t stopped researching ocean acidification since then. In the years following the cruise I went on to work with inorganic carbon data from the tropical Pacific off Mexico for my bachelor and master’s thesis at the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, in Ensenada, Mexico. During that time, I collected and analysed dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity samples from one of the most intense oxygen minimum and carbon maximum zones. The objective was to establish a baseline for future ocean acidification research and sea-air carbon fluxes in this particularly undersampled region. During my PhD I changed tools and went on to tackle ocean acidification with numerical model simulations at the Environmental Physics group at ETHZ, Switzerland. During that time, I studied the mechanisms driving ocean acidification on the long term and interannual time scales on another prominent oxygen minimum region: the Humboldt Current System, off Peru and Chile. No fieldwork here, but the experience gained from those days at sea and in the lab did allow me to easily imagine the ocean moving in my computer. What is your interest in OA? I am interested in investigating the marine carbon cycle using observations and numerical models. I am particularly interested in researching anthropogenic stressors such as ocean acidification and deoxygenation, but also in investigating the natural variability of the carbon cycle. Can you tell us about your past or current contributions to OA research? I still feel the ripples of that 2007 OA cruise, where I met who is currently one of my main collaborators, Dr. Debby Ianson. Debby presented me with the opportunity to work with carbon data from the Line P program, to look at long term ocean acidification and the impact on the marine carbon cycle. Together with collaborators from UVic, IOS and UBC, we have put together a work that is currently in review and where we discuss the anthropogenic and climatic contributions to carbon system trends in the Northeast Pacific (Line P region). What do you see as the most pressing OA issue? Ocean acidification does not act in isolation and other stressors need to be considered when investigating the anthropogenic impacts to the ecosystem. Attention is now also focused on understanding the driving mechanisms and implications of compound events (e.g., deoxygenation + ocean acidification) and extreme events (e.g., marine heatwaves). What excites you most about the current or future of OA research in Canada? Canada sustains the Line P carbon time series, one of the longest (~ 30 years) and better spatially resolved (5 time series stations in the northeast Pacific) ocean acidification time series of the world. We can observe ocean acidification with this time series and the processes enhancing or dampening the OA trend at different time scales. The high quality of this time series allows us to differentiate the anthropogenic impact from the natural oscillations with a high level of certainty. This time series is a treasure and a privilege to work with. To learn more about Ana’s research, please visit her LinkedIn profile. References: Feely, Richard A., Christopher L. Sabine, J. Martin Hernandez-Ayon, Debby Ianson, Burke Hales. 2008 Evidence for Upwelling of Corrosive "Acidified" Water onto the Continental Shelf. SCIENCE1 320:1490-1492.

Here are some of the latest happenings in the world of ocean acidification in Canada and beyond! Upcoming OA Events for World Oceans Week – June 7 – 11th Ocean Week Canada Please check out their website and Twitter accounts for more details on events happening across Canada next week! June 10th (4 pm EDT) Featuring University of Calgary’s own, Samantha Jones (author of the poem “Ocean Acidification”) Register and find more info here: Advancing Climate and Ocean Action Through Art, Education and Outreach (Co-Hosted by OA Alliance and Peace Boat US) There are so many other events happening across the country and beyond! Be sure to explore! MSc Opportunity in Ocean Acidification (OA) Research DFO is looking for an MSc candidate to join their multi-disciplinary research team to examine multi-stressor impacts on juvenile shellfish. More specifically, the project will involve the following objectives: 1. Investigate impacts of coinciding climate stressors (e.g. OA, warming) on biological (e.g. growth), physiological (e.g. energetics), and genomic (e.g. gene expression) responses of juvenile shellfish. 2. Compare responses under static and variable stressor conditions to determine whether long-term exposure or acute exposure events (e.g. upwelling events, heatwaves) pose a greater threat to species’ fitness and survival. 3. Investigate whether co-culture of shellfish with macroalgae or sea cucumbers can mitigate climate change impacts and improve resiliency of the aquaculture industry. The preferred candidate would have: · Experience/knowledge in wet lab plumbing and tank set up. · Experience/knowledge in conducting research on marine invertebrates. · Experience/knowledge in ocean acidification or climate change research. · Desire to work in a multidisciplinary team. · Ability to work independently. · A strong undergraduate track record, including an honour’s degree. · Good problem-solving skills and resourcefulness. · A positive attitude and strong work ethic. The position would start Aug/Sep 2021. The candidate would be based at Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, but the MSc degree would be through the University of Victoria. Interested applicants should send an expression of interest letter, recent CV, and undergraduate transcripts to: Dr. Chris Pearce, Chris.Pearce@dfo-mpo.gc.ca by June 15, 2021. New Resource Did you know that the OA Information exchange now has an Ocean and Coastal Acidification (OCA) Jobs team? Find it here: https://www.oainfoexchange.org/teams/OCA-Job-Opportunities New Webinar Recordings: From Seaweed Days, Cascadia Seaweed presents: Seaweed Sessions! Find the videos on their YouTube channel here. New Paper of Interest Petit-Marty, Natalia, Ivan Nagelkerken, Sean D. Connell, and Celia Schunter. 2021. Natural CO2 seeps reveal adaptive potential to ocean acidification in fish. Evolutionary Applications. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.13239 Have a news item you'd like us to feature? Email coordinator@oceanacidification.ca!

Here are some of the latest happenings in the world of ocean acidification in Canada and beyond! New on the Blog Scientist Spotlight: Samantha Jones – Blending Science and Poetry Samantha Jones is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Geography at the University of Calgary studying carbon cycling in the Canadian Arctic. In addition to her scientific work, Samantha is also a poet, published writer, and workshop instructor at the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society in Calgary. Samantha recently wrote a poem suite, "Ocean Acidification" (published in Watch Your Head, March 2021) that uses visual poetry to educate and help people form a connection with ocean acidification. Samantha shares with us her creative process, scientific background, and her interests in combining science and poetry. Read the full post here. Upcoming OA Events for World Oceans Week – June 7 – 11th Ocean Week Canada Please check out their website and Twitter accounts for more details on events happening across Canada next week! World Oceans Day - June 8th (3 pm EDT) Register and find more info here: Implementing UN SDG 14.3: Protecting Communities and Livelihoods from the Threat of a Changing Ocean (Co-Hosted by OA Alliance and The Ocean Foundation) June 10th (4 pm EDT) Register and find more info here: Advancing Climate and Ocean Action Through Art, Education and Outreach (Co-Hosted by OA Alliance and Peace Boat US) There are so many more events happening across the country and beyond! MSc Opportunity in Ocean Acidification (OA) Research DFO is looking for an MSc candidate to join their multi-disciplinary research team to examine multi-stressor impacts on juvenile shellfish. More specifically, the project will involve the following objectives: 1. Investigate impacts of coinciding climate stressors (e.g. OA, warming) on biological (e.g. growth), physiological (e.g. energetics), and genomic (e.g. gene expression) responses of juvenile shellfish. 2. Compare responses under static and variable stressor conditions to determine whether long-term exposure or acute exposure events (e.g. upwelling events, heatwaves) pose a greater threat to species’ fitness and survival. 3. Investigate whether co-culture of shellfish with macroalgae or sea cucumbers can mitigate climate change impacts and improve resiliency of the aquaculture industry. The preferred candidate would have: · Experience/knowledge in wet lab plumbing and tank set up. · Experience/knowledge in conducting research on marine invertebrates. · Experience/knowledge in ocean acidification or climate change research. · Desire to work in a multidisciplinary team. · Ability to work independently. · A strong undergraduate track record, including an honour’s degree. · Good problem-solving skills and resourcefulness. · A positive attitude and strong work ethic. The position would start Aug/Sep 2021. The candidate would be based at Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, but the MSc degree would be through the University of Victoria. Interested applicants should send an expression of interest letter, recent CV, and undergraduate transcripts to: Dr. Chris Pearce, Chris.Pearce@dfo-mpo.gc.ca by June 15, 2021. Webinar Today – Final webinar in NECAN Early Career Scientist series Controls on Buffering and Coastal Acidification in a New England Estuary Thursday June 3, 2021 at 1:00 PM ET Register here. New Paper of Interest Siedlecki, SA, J Salisbury, DK Gledhill, C Bastidas, S Meseck, K McGarry, CW Hunt, M Alexander, D Lavoie, ZA Wang, J Scott, DC Brady, I Mlsna, K Azetsu-Scott, CM Liberti, DC Melrose, MM White, A Pershing, D Vandemark, DW Townsend, C Chen, W Mook, and R Morrison. 2021. Projecting ocean acidification impacts for the Gulf of Maine to 2050: New tools and expectations. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 9:00062. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2020.00062 Have a news item you'd like us to feature? Email coordinator@oceanacidification.ca!

Samantha Jones is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Geography at the University of Calgary studying carbon cycling in the Canadian Arctic. In addition to her scientific work, Samantha is also a poet, published writer, and workshop instructor at the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society in Calgary. Samantha recently wrote a poem suite, "Ocean Acidification" (published in Watch Your Head, March 2021) that uses visual poetry to educate and help people form a connection with ocean acidification. Samantha shares with us her creative process, scientific background, and her interests in combining science and poetry. What is your background? I am a geologist by background. I completed a BSc (Hons) in Earth Sciences at Dalhousie University and an MSc in Geology at the University of Calgary. I moved to Calgary in 2006 for an industry internship and graduate school and then remained in Alberta to work as a petroleum geoscientist. After a maternity leave, I returned to university to start my PhD in geography with a focus on climate and carbon cycling in the Canadian Arctic. My current research investigates carbon dioxide exchange in a connected lake – river – coastal ocean system in Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut. I am particularly interested in seasonal variations and high-temporal resolution cycles. Now, let’s talk poetry! I have always wanted to be an author. As a child, I was an avid reader and I always dreamed about seeing my own works on bookstore shelves. While I was working in industry, I was able to complete continuing education courses through the University of Calgary and I earned a certificate in Creative Writing. This was the beginning of carving out some serious time and space for my creative practice. A big part of my writing journey has been seeking and establishing community. I am a three-time alumna of the Iceland Writers Retreat and an alumna of the Banff Centre. In 2020 and 2021, I expanded my presence in the Canadian Literary scene by founding and facilitating the Diverse Voices Roundtable and Writing Circle for BIPOC writers at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society (Calgary, Alberta), where I also teach writing workshops. I regularly publish in literary magazines both online and in print, and my writing is included in three anthologies. What motivates/inspires you to combine science and poetry? I am interested in the natural world, in particular everything earth and geoscience related. Environmental themes recur in my work, as well as places that evoke these themes. My poetry often takes me back to locations that I visited during my training as a geologist and with my family on rockhounding or birding trips. I enjoy talking about scientific themes in poetry because it grants me permission to let my emotional self be present in the work, which is not typical in academic writing. This is particularly useful when writing about environmental challenges because it invites the reader into understanding through personal connection. Poetry has an ability to perform scientific processes on the page. At present, I am working on a new project that embeds scientific data into the structure of poems. There is lots of exciting work to be done in blending science and poetics. What inspired you to write about OA in particular? OA is an interesting topic to write about because it is lesser-known compared to other climate issues. I like the idea of exploring something that is invisible in a sense, but poses a substantial threat. I think OA deserves more attention and public awareness and I was confident that writing about the topic would land it in front of audiences that were previously unfamiliar with the phenomenon. Writing my recent poem “Ocean Acidification” (published in Watch Your Head) was a unique opportunity to write a piece that bridged the divide between the scientific and literary communities that I operate within. I am drawn to writing about the scientific topics I know well because although fact checking is still required, I have largely completed the research through my daily work and I am able to get the story onto the page with a relatively uninterrupted flow. What was your creative process in writing these poems? I started with the idea for the visual elements in “Ocean Acidification” and I began writing by drawing six circles, which would then become a constraint for the text. I wanted the poem to explain OA, or at least provide enough information that someone could seek out additional resources on the topic. In addition, I wanted to take the reader from the first circle, which represents both an intact system and the healthy bodies of organisms that build carbonate shells, to a diminished and disappearing version of what was once real. The progressive dismantling of the circles was a way to perform OA on the page. I also used erasure poetry techniques to progressively remove text and alter the narrative to mimic dissolution. How did you want people to interact with these poems? You can interact with the “Ocean Acidification” poem in different ways. If you are listening to a recording, you will get the narrative. If you read the poem on the page, you will get the narrative and view the text performing the OA process. You can also unfocus your eyes and get the take-home message from the overall visual elements in the piece. Is there a take-home you hope those who read your poems are left with regarding OA? I hope people are interested to learn more about OA and the challenges that it poses. I also hope that this work helps demonstrate that there are many avenues for science communication and that creative outputs and deliverables should be afforded the same value as scientific contributions. How have you found the reception of these poems to be? Have you learned anything new/interesting/unexpected from the experience? The interest by the scientific community to “Ocean Acidification” was moving. There were people all over the world and at all stages in their careers reading the work, which gave my voice a broad reach. It was cool to be able to get people from different areas of my life together in the same space through social media to enjoy the poem together. It was obvious that there is a thirst for this type of content and that continuing to produce science poetry is something that is of interest to multiple communities. What is one thing you hope scientists take away from your creative works? One of my key messages is that science and creative pursuits like poetry or art are not separate. Scientists are inherently creative and innovative and I hope to contribute to a space where people feel comfortable taking risks and engaging in creative practices. What excites you most about combining data and poetry? I love the idea of combining scientific processes and data with poetry because I think that it prompts me as the writer to interrogate data differently. When I write “data poems” I need to think carefully about how I want to visualize the data on the page through the narrative or visual elements. The product is something that could not have existed without the data and scientific knowledge or the poetic practice. The generated poem is a new entity that uses both science and art inputs equally. Anything else you’d like to say? Just that intuition is a very powerful thing. If you have a dream or an idea that you think could be unique, take some time to explore it. Wonderful surprises can grow from interdisciplinary seeds. To learn more about Samantha, her writing, and her research, follow her updates via Twitter (@jones_yyc). You can also read her poem suite "Ocean Acidification", published in Watch Your Head, here: "Ocean Acidification" by Samantha Jones. Samantha's "Ocean Acidification" poem will be featured in two events for World Oceans Day on June 8th and 10th (2021). Learn more and register for these events here: June 8th (3 pm EDT) Implementing UN SDG 14.3: Protecting Communities and Livelihoods from the Threat of a Changing Ocean (Co-Hosted by OA Alliance and The Ocean Foundation) June 10th (4 pm EDT) Advancing Climate and Ocean Action Through Art, Education and Outreach (Co-Hosted by OA Alliance and Peace Boat US)