Page 14: of Marine Technology Magazine (March 2020)

News Feature The Future Generation

OceansAdvance

OceansAdvance Pilot Project:

Young Women in Ocean Tech

The Ocean Technology Sector has fact that we need to increase the num- young females an opportunity to fully been identi? ed as a growth area for At- ber of women in the ocean technology experience what an international techni- lantic Canada. The 2017 Atlantic Can- sector and OCEANS’19 was identi? ed cal conference and exhibit has to offer.

ada OT Sector Export and FDI Strategy as a means to engage and entice young OceansAdvance believed that the clearly identi? ed potential growth op- women currently involved in oceans combination of technical paper presen- portunities for this sector. studies to stay in the sector. tations, and plenaries coupled with the

OceansAdvance is committed to ful- With this commitment by the Canadi- vast array of international ? rms exhib- ? lling the vision of the Atlantic Growth an Government in mind OceansAdvance iting would give these students a better

Strategy by helping ? rms in the Region applied for funding to bring a contingent understanding of the exciting opportuni- increase their export value into interna- of 13 young female ocean tech students ties this sector has to offer.

tional markets as well as to help build a from Memorial University’s Marine In- In addition to the busy schedule while talent pipeline for the future with sup- stitute (M.I.) in St. John’s Newfound- at OCEANS’19 it was recognized that porting the development and retention land as well as the Nova Scotia Commu- the students had little or no prior expe- of HQP. As well we are anxious to sup- nity College (NSCC) of Halifax, Nova rience in attending such a large, multi- port the research and academic commu- Scotia. ACOA’s mandate is to support faceted event and OceansAdvance felt nity and to help grow the sector by sup- Pan Atlantic projects in the Region. they would likely feel overwhelmed and porting future entrepreneurs. The student’s areas of study included at a loss in such a setting. Therefore,

In addition to the traditional trade a one year Ocean Technology program an online training course was held for show support for IEEE MTS OCEANS at NSCC and both ocean mapping and them, tailored speci? cally to tradeshow shows this year, OceansAdvance added underwater technology programs from and conference new attendees to prepare two additional components to the pro- M.I. For this pilot project and in part- them for this event.

gram: Women in Ocean Technology and nership with MUN-MI-NSCC and sup- A consultant/trainer was brought in to

Start-Ups in the Ocean Sector. ported by ACOA Halifax, OceansAd- deliver a two hour online tutorial online

The Government of Canada, in par- vance worked with the Technical Chair program which gave these students and ticular the Atlantic Canada Opportuni- from OCEANS’19 Liz Crout, to devel- start-ups a solid background on how best ties Agency (ACOA) recognizes the op a program which would allow these to “work” a tradeshow and conference.

2020 March 14 MTR

MTR #2 (1-17).indd 14 MTR #2 (1-17).indd 14 2/26/2020 2:19:28 PM2/26/2020 2:19:28 PM