DEGREES FOR SUCCESS
By Moira Baird, BA'86
THIRTY YEARS AGO, the Fisheries and Marine Institute joined Memorial University – opening the door for the institute to offer a unique blend of ocean-related programs, from one-day safety courses to doctorates.
Today, the institute delivers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees in ocean technology, fisheries science and maritime studies, along with more than 400 community-based industrial training courses.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
In 1990, a provincial government white paper on post-secondary education supported the planned union between Memorial and the then Newfoundland and Labrador Institute of Fisheries and Marine Technology.
As part of the university, the 28-year-old institute would be able to “explore new degree-granting opportunities and to develop fisheries and marine professionals within the province” while retaining “its distinct identity” and “strong emphasis on industry-specific technical training and extension services.
Preserving the institute’s unique identity and capabilities was a priority of Leslie O’Reilly, who became interim president in 1989.
Memorial president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Art May (B.Sc. (Hons.)’58, M.Sc.’64, D.Sc.’89), was appointed the institute’s president for five months to guide the merger. The institute’s board of governors was also replaced by an industry advisory committee to the Board of Regents and it became known as the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University.
Following the February 1992 union with Memorial, Mr. O’Reilly served as the institute’s first executive director until 2004.
OCEANS-CENTRIC
Since its founding, the Marine Institute has focused on the oceans sector. “The oceans are an integral part of our province’s past and a crucial part of its future – and the Marine Institute’s purpose is providing the skills and opportunities for its students to participate in the oceans-related economy,” said Dr. Rob Shea (BA’85, BSW’89, M.Ed.’95), vice-president of Memorial (Marine Institute).
“Joining Memorial has enabled the institute to become more research intensive by increasing our graduate degree programs, providing learning opportunities for graduate students and developing new research chairs, including our first Canada Research Chair in 2018,” said Dr. Shea.
EARLY DAYS
The College of Fisheries, Navigation, Marine Engineering and Electronics officially opened in January 1964 at Memorial’s former Parade Street campus in St. John’s.
By the early 1980s, plans were underway to replace the campus and classrooms scattered throughout the city. The Ridge Road campus officially opened in October 1985 – enabling the institute to take its education and research know-how to the next level.
The $41-million building was equipped with a seafood products laboratory; acoustic tank; marine simulation facility featuring full mission ship’s bridge and ballast control simulators; a lecture hall named after its first president, Dr. W.F. Hampton; and a library named after the institute’s second president, Dr. C.A. Barrett. It also included funding for the world’s largest flume tank completed in 1988.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Paul Brett (B.Sc.(Hons.)’96, M.Sc.’04, B.Ed.(Post Secondary)’08), the Marine Institute’s associate vice-president of research and strategic partnerships, says experiential learning and technology has always been integral to the institute’s programs.
“The Marine Institute has a long history of providing new and exciting opportunities in the oceans sector and we continue to do so for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, the rest of Canada and the world. As part of Memorial, we’ve been able to build upon our practical, hands-on programming that maintains our core principle of experiential learning. When students complete their programs, they have tangible, industry-ready skills.”
EVOLVING INSTITUTION
By 1992, the institute had expanded its marine simulation facility to include tug handling, remotely operated vehicles, dynamic positioning and engine room operations. Two years later, the Offshore Safety and Survival Centre was expanded.
In 1996, the Marine Institute saw its first undergraduate degrees awarded and the following year, its first graduate degree was conferred.
Expansion and innovation continued under Glenn Blackwood (B.Sc.(Hons.)’83, MA’96), who joined the institute in 2005 – first as executive director until 2011 and then two terms as vice-president of Memorial (Marine Institute) until 2021. The institute created a new school in ocean technology, more undergraduate and graduate degree programs, two new research centres in ocean technology and fisheries ecosystems, The Journal of Ocean Technology, research chairs and the Holyrood marine base now known as The Launch.
Designed as a hub of ocean innovation and collaboration for industry, researchers and academia, The Launch features an ocean observatory and a subsea centre of excellence for training and testing seabed equipment and evaluating positioning systems in underwater vehicles. It is scheduled for completion in September – just imagine what the next 30 years will bring.
The historical information in this article comes from The Journal of Ocean Technology, Vol. 9, 2014, special edition marking MI’s 50th anniversary.