VIU Nanaimo Special Event: The URCHIN TANK @ VIU’s Malaspina Theatre

Join us for the Centre for Seafood Innovation’s URCHIN TANK – a show like no other!

This is the culmination of a semester long innovation challenge where Vancouver Island University Microbiology and Culinary Arts students teamed up to develop fermented seaweed products.

What’s included?

Your ticket includes entry to the event, sampling students’ creations, learning about the science behind seaweed fermentations and the Main Event: the URCHIN TANK. Five student teams will pitch their fermented seaweed creations to a panel of seafood industry entrepreneurs, The URCHINS

You will be entertained and educated about seaweed, the students, the urchins and more.

Fred Jacklin, VIU Registrar and Community Thespian will emcee what promises to be an entertaining and potentially pivotal event as VIU students contribute to the development of new seaweed food products.

Ticket proceeds will help CSI cover event costs.

Schedule

Doors open: 5:20 pm

5:30 – 6:15 pm Lobby open to browse student seaweed creations. Non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks will be available for purchase (CASH ONLY)

6:15 pm Doors open to theatre for seating

6:30 pm Show starts

7:30 pm Show ends

The Centre for Seafood Innovation (CSI) is a new innovation hub dedicated to supporting sustainable seafood production and strengthening food security. We provide experiential learning opportunities to students to help them understand the value of food and contribute to food production.

Visit our website to learn more about our work.

The URCHIN TANK is a Dragon’s Den style event where student teams will pitch their products to a panel of seaweed industry judges, the “URCHINS”. The judges will provide constructive feedback and indicate their interest in taking the products to the next level: Commercialization.  

The students will display their products, and posters explaining the science behind their work, in the theatre foyer prior to the URCHIN TANK show.

The Seaweed Challenge

The URCHIN TANK is the culmination of the “Seaweed Challenge” a term long project where approximately 30 microbiology and culinary students combine forces to develop fermented seaweed products. The goal of this unique innovation challenge is to create safe and tasty fermented products that could be developed into saleable food products. 

Parking & Arrival information

Paid Parking is available on the Nanaimo campus. Please see the campus parking map on VIU’s website here.

Bring your tickets with you for entry at the door.

The lobby will open at 5:30 pm and seating will begin at 6:15 pm. In the theatre foyer, you will have the opportunity to taste-test their products and browse student scientific posters before the show for guests . There will be drinks and light snacks available for purchase.