Changes to ICOR

Message from the Vice-President Research

As you may be aware, ICOR’s Advisory Committee recommended that the centre be wound down following the departure of its director at the end of June, 2010. I support this recommendation and will be formally seeking its closure through the normal Senate process in the fall. This decision in no way reflects on the importance of ocean and coastal research at UVic, in fact quite the opposite. Ironically, the breadth and depth of our excellent educational and research programs in areas related to ICOR’s mandate meant that a single research centre was hard pressed to meet everyone’s’ needs and expectations. 

Highly successful  inter-disciplinary  research such as those in SEOS, Geography, Biology, Environmental Studies, Law, Ocean Networks Canada...to name but a few, suggest that we need to consider other ways to provide added value and support from the university for their research and graduate training programs. To that end, I am working with the Vice President Academic to explore the potential to establish an ocean and environmental version of our highly successful Health Education and Research Council.

The ICOR office will be closing at the end of August, 2010 and messages about this change will be posted on its website and phone and email messages will report on this change during the transition period. Personally, and on behalf of the Advisory Committee, I want to thank everyone (past directors, staff, faculty, students) associated with ICOR over the past number of years (and CEOR before it) for all you have done to help UVic establish itself a one of Canada’s most successful universities in ocean and coastal research and education.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact my office at 250-721-7973 or by email to jemc@uvic.ca.

Dr. Howard Brunt

Vice-President Research