Mission

To conduct multidisciplinary ecological research, monitor biodiversity and the environment, and communicate results to better understand and respond to change in the Salish Sea bioregion 

Who We Are

IMERSS is a federally incorporated Canadian non-profit society (1203734-3). Our organization represents a multidisciplinary working group of scientists, scholars, artists and community members committed to fostering an inclusive culture of research and conservation in a bioregion currently undergoing rapid development and change. Engaging individuals and communities in ongoing research and monitoring, we support immersive, place-based experiences that foster awareness and respect for the Salish Sea. We take a networked approach to collecting, analyzing and sharing ecological data, helping to build community capacity for long-term ecological research at the local and regional scale. 

Where We Are Based

IMERSS is based on Galiano Island, in the southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, yet has a broad bioregional focus. Our existing lab facilities support work in both marine and terrestrial ecology, enabling a broad range of research.

OBJECTIVES

• To support open community participation in science, scholarship and art, promoting understanding, appreciation, and respect for the Salish Sea bioregion

• To increase community capacity for long-term ecological research (LTER), toward a dynamic, healthy and interdependent Salish Sea
• To advance knowledge, technology, and creative expression that strengthens multidisciplinary, cross-cultural and transboundary relationships, while informing research, conservation, and natural history education