emorial is committed to finding innovative and cost-effective methods of instruction for students and to supporting research in areas relevant to the province's economic growth. With funds raised through The Opportunity Fund, the university has been able to increase its support for innovation in teaching and research.

Among the lead gifts in this area is a new research chair in telecommunications. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)/NewTel/Nortel Research Chair in Telecommunications Engineering and Information Technology has been made possible through a $500,000 donation by NewTel Enterprises Ltd. and Nortel (Northern Telecom). A $250,000 gift from Terra Nova Development is being used to create the Terra Nova Project Chair in Ocean Environmental Risk Engineering. The Royal Bank of Canada made a $225,000 contribution to establish the Virtual Design Centre to build on the university's expertise in distance education. The Iron Ore Company of Canada has designated $400,000 of their $650,000 contribution to The Opportunity Fund to establish a Community Learning Centre in Labrador City. The centre will develop science, engineering and corporate training programs for new distance-distributed learning applications.

On Sept. 11, 1997, Petro-Canada announced a $500,000 donation to The Opportunity Fund campaign to endow the Young Innovator Awards Program and a research Chair in Women in Science and Engineering at the university. Dr. Mary Williams has been appointed as the chair holder.

Most recently a gift from alumnus John Kelly sparked the creation of the Hubert W. Kelly Memorial Chair in Youth-focused Technological Entrepreneurship. Dr. Bob Richards, formerly CEO of Genesis Organic Inc., holds the chair, which was established with nearly $1 million in public and private sector funding.