JUNE 2001

Convocation days

The first session of spring convocation was held at Grenfell College on May 11, and the ceremonies continued May 30 through June 1 at the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre. The eight sessions saw approximately 2,000 students receive degrees. Eight outstanding individuals received honorary degrees, awarded by Senate: Dr. William O. Pruitt, the Hon. Justice Louise Arbour, Tim Borlase, Dr. Gwynne Dyer, Ray Guy, Dr. Anton Kuerti, Dr. Michel Serres and Dr. Wesley Whitten. During the Friday session in St. John's, 11 students from Dominica and St. Vincent were awarded B.Ed. (intermediate/secondary) degrees.

New era for Marine Institute

A new era in offshore safety for petroleum and marine transportation workers in Newfoundland and Labrador was launched June 22 with the opening of the Marine Institute's training centre at St. John's harbour. The South Side Marine Base provides special facilities to train workers in offshore safety and survival techniques. The base, located at Pier 25, features a 137-metre dock and a building for classrooms, offices and equipment storage and repair.

Memorial to participate in National Ocean Network

Memorial will be playing a key role in the Ocean Management National Research Network, which will address ocean management research. Industry Canada Minister Brian Tobin announced the launch of the network on June 8 in St. John's. The network is jointly funded by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The network, led by Saint Mary's University, Nova Scotia, will bring together researchers in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, along with participation by ocean-oriented organizations, community groups and government. The theme of the work will be science and local knowledge, sustainability and integrated ocean management. Memorial's component of the network, the Sustainability Node, led by Dr. Peter Sinclair, Sociology, will receive $204,500 over three years to address the sustainable use of marine resources from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Its activities will include workshops, a Web site and a listserv, a database of ongoing research, and support for graduate student research in this area.

Motor City mania

The engineering students who participated in the Formula SAE event in Pontiac, Michigan, are back on track after their first experience as Memorial's representatives in the race car designing, building and racing competition. The 12-member team spent two years fund-raising, creating and testing their vehicle, and it all came together May 16-20, 2001. Though it finished 91 out of 126 universities competing, the Formula MUN car garnered several smaller successes, including passing technical inspection on its first try and participating in all events. Team member Gilles Gardner reported the team was thrilled to learn that the Big Three automakers who sponsor the event perceive it as an opportunity to harvest the next generation of motor sports engineers. The team will spend the summer experimenting with the vehicle in preparation for next year's event.