Stories from the darkest depths of the ocean and B.C.’s involvement in subsea exploration are the focus of the Museum of North Vancouver’s first ever in-person event.
Maritime historian Vickie Jensen and entrepreneur and inventor Phil Nuytten are in conversation Thursday (March 31), discussing how B.C.-based innovators, using technologies developed in North Vancouver, transformed subsea exploration through the design of submersibles, underwater robotics, and, specifically, Nuytten’s world-renowned Newtsuit.
The event is part of MONOVA’s Connections Speaker Series, which focuses on human stories and celebrates the innovation, diversity, and unique landscape of North Vancouver’s communities. The museum, which opened to the public in December of 2021, has hosted online Speaker Series events, but this is the first one that will be held live before an audience.
Moderated by Vince den Hertog of Robert Allan, Naval Architects & Marine Engineers, the event will also focus on Jensen’s book Deep, Dark and Dangerous: The Story of British Columbia’s World-Class Undersea Tech Industry, which traces the province’s rise to a subsea innovation front runner.
Drawing on her background in documenting both history and industry, Jensen shares the stories of subsea pioneers and details the innovations that are responsible for B.C.’s remarkable and continuing subsea reputation.
Nuytten opened Vancouver’s first scuba shop as a teenager, and went on to become a commercial diver and start his undersea construction company at 25. Now, Nuytten is best known for his atmospheric diving suits, Newtsuit and Exosuit, along with a series of submersibles for scientific research.
Starting at 6 p.m., a question-and-answer period will follow the conversation. More information and tickets can be purchased here.
