This week, the Sidney/North Saanich branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) announced the launch of a new ‘scientist-in-residence’ program.
In their announcement the library revealed that the first resident scientist will be Dr. Sophia Johannessen.
Dr. Johannessen is a geochemical oceanographer who works for Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the Institute of Ocean Sciences (IOS) in North Saanich.
As part of this program, she has developed a special three-part series of talks, guiding audiences through what she gleaned from her recent research expedition to Antarctica.
Additionally, interested parties will learn about current climate trends in BC’s coastal ocean and will have the opportunity to ask questions about Dr. Johannessen’s research and life as a scientist.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Johannessen is willing to share her knowledge and experience as an oceanographer with the community. The topics are so timely,” said Virginia MacLeod, Customer Services Librarian.
“We are very lucky to have world-class researchers working so near to us.”
Dr. Johannessen’s first talk has been dubbed ‘science at the bottom of the world’ and is based on the Canadian Antarctic Research Expedition 2025 that she was a part of.
She was one of 15 Canadian scientists who spent a month in Antarctica, aboard the Canadian navy ship HMCS Margaret Brooke.
The scientists were there to investigate the effects of climate change on the coastal waters of Antarctica, but according to VIRL, that was only part of the story.
This will take place on January 20th, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The second of her talks covers matters related to the changing coastal ocean.
Audiences will learn about how BC’s coastal ocean is responding to global climate change and local pressures from Dr. Johannessen.
This talk will take place on February 17th, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Finally, a Q&A talk will take place where people will be able to ‘ask an oceanographer’ about her life and her research.
This will take place on March 10th, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
VIRL says that all her talks are free and open to the public. The scientist-in-residence programming will take place in a meeting room attached to the library, which is located at 10091 Resthaven Drive in Sidney.
Additionally, this series is designed for general audiences of all ages, with no scientific background required.
