On the afternoon of Thursday, May 16 there will be an optional post-conference scientific field trip to the Aquatron Laboratory at Dalhousie University’s main campus. The Aquatron is the largest university aquatic research facility in Canada, and considered by many to be one of the best in the world.
The Aquatron gets its name from two words: “Aqua” – water and “tron” – control. It is the goal of the Aquatron to provide control of various parameters in the aquatic laboratory setting.
The Aquatron is well suited to accommodate almost any lab-based aquatic experiment. It has six large tanks holding a combined volume of over 2,000 m3, as well as a wide variety of smaller tanks, research spaces and equipment. These world-class facilities are backed by a mechanical system, which can provide high quality, temperature-controlled seawater and freshwater year round, as well as a professional team of both biologists and mechanical operators who are available to run the systems and help researchers.
The tour will include the large mesocosm tanks where shellfish and finfish research are being done, as well as wet labs, and the work viewed during the tour will depend upon what is being undertaken that day.
Participants will also have the opportunity to see sampling plates that have species collected from a Fisheries and Oceans Canada monitoring site, plus see 3-D printed models of AIS as well as species in resin blocks.
Due to space limitations in the Aquatron, there will be two separate tours with 14 people per tour. Please note that the post-conference field spots are now full.
Group #1 – This group is now full
- 13:15 Depart Halifax Convention Centre by van for Dalhousie University
- 13:30-14:30 Tour of the Aquatron Laboratory
- 14:30 Depart Dalhousie for the Halifax Convention Centre
- 14:45 Arrive Halifax Convention Centre
Group #2 – This group is now full
- 15:00 Depart Halifax Convention Centre by van for Dalhousie University
- 15:15-16:15 Tour of the Aquatron Laboratory
- 16:15 Depart Dalhousie for the Halifax Convention Centre
- 16:30 Arrive Halifax Convention Centre
Cost – $25.00 plus HST to cover the round-trip transportation.
Please direct any questions to icais@invasivespeciescentre.ca
