Building Ocean Literacy in Nova Scotia: The Story of the Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity

By: Lucija Prelovec

As the old saying goes, “when life gives you a dead blue whale, make a marine science centre.” and that is exactly what happened at Dalhousie University! In 2017, 63-foot female blue whale was found floating off the coast of Nova Scotia. While it was a tragic discovery, it also presented a rare opportunity. The whale was transported to the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus, where its bones were carefully cleaned, degreased, and preserved.

The original goal was to mount the skeleton in the Steele Ocean Sciences Building on Dalhousie’s Halifax campus.  But that idea quickly expanded. Thanks to support from donor Ross Beaty, Dalhousie began planning their version of the University British Columbia’s Beaty Biodiversity Centre. Planning formally began in 2019, and I was lucky enough to be part of it.

Through my work with Ocean School, which was developing educational materials tied to ocean literacy for the future centre, I joined the Science Committee. Alongside Dalhousie researchers, Mi’kmaq education specialists, and informal learning experts, we narrowed down the themes and content for the exhibits. But the ocean is so important to Nova Scotia, through culture, recreation, industry, and research, it was a challenge choosing what to highlight.

What truly guided the process was the decision to collaborate closely with the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq and adopt a Mi’kmaq‑first approach. Every exhibit concept was shaped by Indigenous knowledge and priorities, even the selection of which species to feature. When you explore the centre for the first time, you will see how Indigenous knowledge and themes and notice that all the displays in the centre have text not just in English and French, but first in Mi’kmaw.

Then the pandemic hit. Content development slowed but never stopped. The Science Committee continued meeting, and with the guidance of Discovery Centre International, exhibit concepts were finalized and text began taking shape. During this time, I transitioned into a new role at DeepSense, where I learned how artificial intelligence and machine learning were being used in ocean research. I helped shape the inclusion of a project called “Whales in Space,” which ultimately became part of the centre’s exhibits. I reviewed the text, tested the interactive activity, and provided feedback throughout its development.

Fast forward to early 2025, when reconstruction began on the first and second floors of the Steele Ocean Sciences Building. In June, the infamous blue whale skeleton was mounted, and exhibits started coming together. In October 2025, the Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity officially opened.

Now featuring more than 30 marine exhibits and tanks, the Beaty Centre welcomes the public from Thursday to Sunday, with school groups visiting on Thursdays and Fridays. If you’re in the Halifax area, it’s worth a visit. The Beaty Centre adds to Halifax’s ever growing marine education spaces, with hands on experiences at the Back to the Sea Centre, to spaces merging research with public outreach at the Canadian Sea Turtle Network, and long standing exhibits at the Museum of Natural History and Discovery Centre, the Beaty Centre adds to the experience and help locals and visitors learn about our amazing ocean and our connection to it.