2014-2015
News Release
REF NO.: 20
SUBJECT: Not your typical kinesiology experience
DATE: September 19, 2014
Two Memorial University students are discovering how important kinesiology can be for offshore workers who spend weeks at a time at sea.
Nicole Bishop and Katie Aylward, master’s students in the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, interned with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in Houston, Texas, recently. They researched working conditions and accommodations (lighting, vibration, noise and air quality), and tested the latest safety equipment for ABS surveyors, such as cooling vests, ear and eye protection and other personal protective equipment.
“Many people assume that pursing a degree in kinesiology means continuing on to work in health care. However, that’s not the case anymore,” said Ms. Bishop. “The Memorial kinesiology program is rapidly expanding and the opportunities are endless if you just do a little searching to see what’s out there.”
Ms. Aylward also learned that few people know kinesiology exists in this industry.
“Even engineers and surveyors, who have worked in the industry for years, still have no idea what it is we do,” she said. “It’s always interesting to me because human factors and ergonomics have been a crucial aspect of the nuclear industry and the aviation industry for many years now. The marine industry is a few years behind and is only now really putting human factors at the forefront when it comes to marine safety and vessel design.”
ABS is an international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.
ABS and Memorial University have a longstanding relationship; many students from the kinesiology and navel engineering programs complete internships and co-op work terms at ABS. The bureau also has its own Harsh Environment Technology Centre (HETC) in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, which was created in 2009 to support the development of technologies for ships and offshore structures operating in harsh environments.
REF NO.: 20
SUBJECT: Not your typical kinesiology experience
DATE: September 19, 2014
Two Memorial University students are discovering how important kinesiology can be for offshore workers who spend weeks at a time at sea.
Nicole Bishop and Katie Aylward, master’s students in the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, interned with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in Houston, Texas, recently. They researched working conditions and accommodations (lighting, vibration, noise and air quality), and tested the latest safety equipment for ABS surveyors, such as cooling vests, ear and eye protection and other personal protective equipment.
“Many people assume that pursing a degree in kinesiology means continuing on to work in health care. However, that’s not the case anymore,” said Ms. Bishop. “The Memorial kinesiology program is rapidly expanding and the opportunities are endless if you just do a little searching to see what’s out there.”
Ms. Aylward also learned that few people know kinesiology exists in this industry.
“Even engineers and surveyors, who have worked in the industry for years, still have no idea what it is we do,” she said. “It’s always interesting to me because human factors and ergonomics have been a crucial aspect of the nuclear industry and the aviation industry for many years now. The marine industry is a few years behind and is only now really putting human factors at the forefront when it comes to marine safety and vessel design.”
ABS is an international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.
ABS and Memorial University have a longstanding relationship; many students from the kinesiology and navel engineering programs complete internships and co-op work terms at ABS. The bureau also has its own Harsh Environment Technology Centre (HETC) in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, which was created in 2009 to support the development of technologies for ships and offshore structures operating in harsh environments.
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