April 17, 2008 - 7:41am
Hundreds of student researchers and aspiring scientists benefit greatly from a close community connection between Malaspina University-College and the Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s Pacific Biological Station (PBS) in Nanaimo.
“The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the PBS are major supporters of Malaspina students and professors,” said Dr. Bill Pennell, Honorary Research Associate at Malaspina and Acting Director of Malaspina’s Institute for Coastal Research.
“Many graduates from our Bachelor of Science program and Fisheries & Aquaculture diploma program currently work at the PBS today, or got their first jobs there.”
Malaspina alumnus Donovan Lynch is a perfect example. Lynch graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (major in Biology) from Malaspina in 2000, and is now Acting Facility Manager for the PBS.
“I was recruited by Environment Canada before I graduated from Malaspina,” said Lynch. “For several years, I worked as technician based at the PBS. It was mainly my work as a student researcher in Malaspina’s Applied Environmental Research Laboratory that got me the job. Malaspina provided excellent background. I don’t think I would have landed the job without that experience.”
Lynch became Acting Facility Manager at the PBS in January 2008. He functions as liaison between buildings and grounds people, as well as scientists, and helps facilitate research and science related activities on site. He’s also responsible for health, safety and environmental issues.
According to Pennell, Malaspina entered into an official cooperative agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) several years ago which facilitates ongoing collaboration between the institution and the PBS.
“We share equipment and resources,” said Pennell. “Faculty from the Fisheries & Aquaculture, Chemistry, Biology and Computing Science departments at Malaspina often work directly with scientists from the PBS on numerous research projects. Many of these projects are very successful because of our ongoing collaboration.”
Scientists at the Centre for Shellfish Research (CSR) at Malaspina and the CSR’s developing Field Station at Deep Bay also collaborate with PBS scientists.
“An important DFO research fund administered through the PBS has funded vital research projects at the Centre for Shellfish Research,” Pennell said. “We fully expect to continue this partnership and contribute to DFO’s science agenda, especially as the new Field Station at Deep Bay is developed.”
Jenny Dawson-Coates, a technician in Malaspina’s Fisheries & Aquaculture program (and a graduate of the program herself) said the PBS-Malaspina connection provides outstanding learning opportunities for students.
Students have been taken out on oceanographic/fisheries research vessels while working alongside top international scientists. These same scientists mentor Malaspina students during practicum placements or co-operative education work terms at the PBS.
PBS scientists routinely share their expertise in the classroom by helping to teach students, and many actively engage in supervising Biology students as they complete a major thesis-like undergraduate research project in their fourth year.
Dawson-Coates added that PBS scientists also volunteer for Malaspina’s popular Science and Technology lecture series, and a new radio program on Malaspina Radio (CHLY 101.7 FM) called It’s Not Rocket Science, which benefits not only students and faculty, but also the general public.
Other scientists affiliated with the PBS, including the late Dr. Bill Ricker, have provided funding for student scholarships, or donated books, journals and other materials to Malaspina.
“The ongoing support Malaspina receives from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the PBS is tremendous,” added Pennell. “We’re extremely grateful and look forward to our successful partnership continuing for many years to come.”
Editor’s note: The Pacific Biological Station celebrates its’ 100th anniversary with a public open house Friday, April 25, 3 to 9 pm, Saturday, April 26, 9 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, April 27, 9 am to 3 pm. There will be limited parking available on-site. A free shuttle will run during public hours, leaving from Rock City Elementary and Departure Bay Elementary approximately every 20 minutes. The last hour of service each day will return visitors to these shuttle stops.
Tags: In the Community
