The Pacific Cable Board (PCB) Cable Station was constructed in 1902, and a second building in 1926, with Bamfield being the terminus of an underwater cable laid between Bamfield and Fanning Island, a tiny coral atoll in the middle of the Pacific.
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Story 6 – Life at Bamfield
For fifty years, students, staff and visitors have had the opportunity to spend time at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Across the decades, life at the station has transformed dramatically. Its proximity to the bounty of the Pacific ocean remains unchanged, but with time, money, imagination, and elbow grease, it has evolved into a comfortable,…
Story 5 – Building a Vision
Perched atop a sea cliff overlooking a sheltered inlet on the wild Pacific coast, the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre provides visiting researchers and students with everything they could possibly need. An abundance of laboratories, classrooms, cabins and dormitory housing is available for staff and visitors. Boat docks and a dive shed at the water’s edge…
Construction of the main building labs and offices begins.
While the ecologists and phycologists carried on with their course work amidst friendly rivalry, construction was taking place at the old cable station site. A ‘penthouse’ for offices was built on the roof as well as a complex seawater system, sewage treatment plant, and backup generators were installed. LINK TO STORY 5 – Building…
The first biodiversity surveys are conducted.
Throughout 1969, UBC researchers Dr. Paul Harrison, Dan Pace, Ken Bailey, and others, camped out in the cable station building, conducting the early survey work. Biodiversity surveys took place during the 1970’s through the 1980’s, led by Dr. Bill Austin (SFU) and Dr. Louis Druehl (SFU).
Story 1 – Birth of Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre: The search for a site.
Early in 1969, a float plane meandered its way over the convoluted bays of western Vancouver Island’s coast as eager eyes peered from the window. Seaweed scientist Louis Druehl was one of those aboard. He was heading a search committee tasked with choosing the best spot to build a Canadian west coast marine science station…
History
The Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre was originally the site of the Pacific Cable Board (PCB) Cable Station, which served as the eastern terminus of the trans-pacific telegraph cable from 1901 to 1959. In 1901 the cable ship Colonia set out from Bamfield to lay the 3459 nautical miles, or 6,400 kilometer-long undersea cable line, known…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here you will find frequently asked questions about the BMSC for the various groups that use our educational, research, and event facilities. The first section can apply to all guests, and you can scroll down to find questions specific to your groups needs. If you do not find the answer to your question, contact…
Science Communication
Overview Outreach is an important, and often neglected, component of a scientist’s skill set. A good scientist should be able to explain what he or she is doing and why it matters–and in terms that the general public will both understand and find interesting. This course will explore the ways scientific information reaches the public,…