Kelly Foss

Memorial University was well represented at the recent joint Science Atlantic Aquaculture and Fisheries, Biology and Environment Conference in Nova Scotia.

Mark Earle, Sarah Predham, Jason Lewis, Susan Banfield, Garry Dart, Marie Watton and Greg Furey, all from the Department of Biology, along with Jessica Fry and Sabrina Inkpen from the Marine Institute, attended the conference, which was held March 15-17 at Acadia University.

“All Memorial student papers were serious contenders for prizes,” said Dr. Bob Hooper, a faculty member with the biology department. He attended the conference and represented the university on the Biology committee, serving as judge and supervisor for the Memorial students. “Jessica Fry was awarded the Skretting Award for third place, graduate paper in the Fisheries and Aquaculture section, while Garry Dart won honorable mention in the Environment section.

Science Atlantic (formerly known as APICS) sponsors student conferences every year, which give Atlantic university students their first opportunity to present their thesis research to their peers and faculty judges.

“The Science Atlantic conference proved to be a great avenue for students to network with students from other universities, as well as an opportunity to showcase research that was completed throughout their degree,” said Ms. Predham, who is also the president of Memorial University’s Biology Society. “This conference allowed a unique chance for students to present their own research to other universities, which is something that not many undergraduates get to experience.”

Mr. Lewis added “This conference gives undergraduate students a chance to present and communicate their work to other young scientists, while getting to know a great group of people that may end up being colleagues in the near future. It is rare for students at this level to have experiences at a scientific conference and will be of tremendous benefit for a future in research.”

Attending the conference has been a memorable step for many developing scientists, according to Dr. Hooper.

“Dr. Craig Purchase, a faculty member in the Department of Biology, won an award at the Biology Conference in 1997,” he said. “This year he sponsored his own students, Mark and Jason to attend.”

The Marine Institute, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Student Affairs, Student Affairs, MUNSU the student’s supervisors and Science Atlantic all provided travel support for Memorial students. Industrial sponsors also contributed to travel for Fisheries and Aquaculture delegates.