Media Advisory: Minister to Participate in Opening Ceremonies of ROV Competition

The Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, will speak at the opening ceremonies of the Marine Advanced Technology Education Centre�s (MATE) 2009 Newfoundland and Labrador Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Scout Competition tomorrow (Saturday, March 20). The event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at the flume tank at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University (MI) in St. John�s.

This marks the first time that junior high school students from the Eastern School District will have the opportunity to participate in this event to design, build, and operate a ROV. The specified tasks are defined by the MATE Centre of Monterey, California.

The event is organized by MI and assisted by the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development through the Youth Innovation Program.

Supported by the National Science Foundation�s MATE Centre and the Marine Technology Society (MTS) ROV Committee, the ROV competition encourages students to develop science, technology, engineering, and math skills by showing them real-world applications of these subjects.

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Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca

2010 03 19                                                     2:25 p.m.