In Brief
Virtual Job Fair a success
A recent partnership between Memorial and the College of the
North Atlantic was a big hit. The 2008 Virtual Job Fair, an online
partnership to connect students and alumni with employment
opportunities, saw an increase in participation rates for
employers, employees and job postings. From March 12-26, more than
2,000 prospective employees connected with 60 employers, the
majority of whom were from Atlantic Canada. It’s the second
time the fair has taken place. There was a 22 per cent increase in
employers who participated compared to last year, and a 17 per cent
increase in prospective employees, mainly students and alumni. Job
seekers could register and apply at no charge at http://jobfair.orbiscommunications.com/home.htm
while recruiters reached out to classrooms and homes with job
postings and links to websites containing additional employment
opportunities. This job fair continues to grow in popularity among
students looking for summer employment, upcoming or recent
graduates looking for full-time employment and alumni looking for a
career change and advancement.
PhD student nets major award
Robyn Auld, a fourth-year PhD biology candidate, has recently
been selected as one of three Atlantic Canadian recipients of the
2008 Graduate Student Award of Merit from the Senior Women Academic
Administrators of Canada. Ms. Auld will receive a $2,500 prize
which is given annually to women graduate students who have
demonstrated outstanding leadership in the university or general
community while maintaining exemplary academic records. She is
currently researching the life history of the hairy chinch bug, a
common lawn pest in Newfoundland and Labrador. Her efforts may lead
to better pest management strategies that can benefit homeowners
and the environment. Throughout her university career, Ms. Auld has
participated in causes and activities she feels strongly about,
both at Memorial University, and in the community at large.
National recognition for outreach project
A special project which began at Memorial two years ago is
getting some national attention. A profile of Mobilizing Knowledge
for Sustainable Regions in Newfoundland and Labrador has been
published in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research
Council’s (SSHRC) annual Performance Report for 2006-2007.
The project, which is partly funded by SSHRC, is managed by
Memorial’s Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and
Development, the regional policy and development arm of the
university.
The Mobilizing Knowledge for Sustainable Regions in Newfoundland
and Labrador as well as the Memorial University Regional Inventory
(MURI) projects are designed to enhance collaboration between
Memorial University and individuals, communities and organizations
in the province. MURI will be a web-based database of university
initiatives relating to sectors, communities and issues relating to
Newfoundland and Labrador. The Mobilizing Knowledge project will
work with the Regional Councils of the Rural Secretariat to
determine research needs for regional planning and match these with
existing work at Memorial and the College of the North
Atlantic.
SSHRC submits its Performance Report annually to ensure
accountability to Canadians through Parliament. It documents
SSHRC’s achievements against planned priorities and
objectives. The Report contains information about the achievements
of SSHRC-funded researchers and students.
Dump and Run is back
Would you like to clean your clutter while supporting a
fund-raising campaign? Memorial University’s environmental
society Project Green is collecting re-usable items for its seventh
annual Dump and Run community yard sale.
Project Green is asking people to bring clothing, non-perishable
food, furniture, household items, sports equipment, tools or
anything that is in good condition to Hatcher House on the St.
John’s campus April 10 through April 18.
The giant sale will then take place April 19-20. A pick-up
service will be provided to donators from April 15-19. For more
info, e-mail enviro@mun.ca or visit www.mun.ca/projectgreen.
