Dalhousie is recognized the world over as a leader in ocean learning and research. Now, the Dal oceans experience is about to get a lot more immersive.
President Richard Florizone announced today that the university plans to launch the world’s first underwater campus. "Dal-lantis" is scheduled to open to students in time for Dal’s 200th anniversary in 2018.
“Since Jacques Cousteau first showed us the wonders of the ocean, people have long dreamed of living under the sea,” explains Dr. Florizone. “We are proud that Dal will be the first institution in the world to offer students and faculty a complete, 24-7 underwater living and learning experience.”
Dal-lantis will be located a few kilometres off the coast of Nova Scotia, in a part of the Northwest Atlantic known as the “lungs” of the ocean. In this area, surface water “breathes” in oxygen from the atmosphere and sends it to the depths to be circulated around the globe.
Students and faculty will have a unique opportunity to study the Northwest Atlantic on the Dal-lantis campus, which includes a residence building, two lab and teaching facilities and a multi-porpoise recreation room. The Student Union Building will be an actual sub floating around the campus.
New currents of scholarship and student life
Carolyn Watters, provost and vice-president academic, says a pilot team has been investigating the possibilities of campus life underwater for the past year.
“A small aquanaut team has been living in an airtight facility in the Dalplex pool since last April,” says Dr. Watters, who credits an ingenious disguise for keeping the project secret.
“No one ever asked about the giant rubber duck floating through their Aquafit class.”
Students will not require any diver training to study at Dal-lantis. Transportation to the mainland will come in the form of dozens of high-speed, waterproof tubes that will propel Dal-lantians above and below the surface.
Dr. Watters says the campus will appeal to students who are interested in ocean-focused study, motivated to achieve and “curious about what it’s like being propelled through waterproof tubes at high speed.”
According to Martha Crago, vice-president, research, Dal-lantis will offer researchers an unprecedented opportunity to observe what life is really like in the deep ocean.
“We’ll be able to study everything from microbial life to climate change to the long-term effects of space travel,” Crago says. “What intellectually curious person wouldn’t want to live like plankton for a year.”
Boris Worm, one of Dal’s most accomplished ocean researchers, says there is no limit to how deep faculty members can go in an underwater campus.
“Am I saying that I expect to evolve gills and become some kind of hybrid mer-man? No,” said Worm. “But I’m not not saying that, if you know what I mean.”
Heather Sutherland, assistant vice-president, ancillary services, says each student in residence at Dal-lantis will have access to a carrier dolphin to relay messages to friends and family on the surface. The dolphins will also be available to ride for extracurricular purposes and, according to Sutherland, for friendship and emotional support.
“Dolphins don’t have shoulders, but whatever they have, you can cry on them,” says Sutherland.
She adds that Dal-lantis students will have the chance to achieve glory in sports and activities like varsity breath-holding, gargle-opera and shark polo, backed by the new campus mascot, the Tiger Shark.
A new life aquatic
Dr. Florizone says Dal-lantis has proven to be a surprisingly cost-effective project. The construction team has built most of the facilities in the hulls of sunken pirate ships, using basic supplies and ocean detritus. “A few lobster shells, some crown molding and a fresh coat of paint can go a long way,” he says.
He adds that the investment is well worth it, especially in comparison to other options.
“There’s all this talk about colonizing Mars, but let’s be real: Haligonians raise a Twitstorm when traffic delays them 10 minutes getting home. A 40-million kilometre commute to Mars just isn’t realistic.
“Plus, we’re hoping this will also alleviate some of the parking issues we have on our terrestrial campuses.”
Dr. Florizone did admit to having a few nagging reservations about Dal-lantis.
“Mostly I’m concerned about those dolphins. I think they’re plotting something.”
If you’ve made it this far, you’re likely seeing some obvious holes in our plan, which could quite literally sink the underwater campus idea. Happy April Fools!