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Innovation, Business and Rural Development
Education
October 4, 2012

The following is being distributed at the request of the Research & Development Corporation:

RDC Launches Prestigious Awards
Program for Newfoundland and Labrador High School Students

Recognizing the need to introduce high school students to research-related education and career opportunities, the Research & Development Corporation (RDC) today launched its 2013 Research Inspired Student Enrichment (RISE) Awards competition.

The RISE Awards will provide up to 15 Newfoundland and Labrador high school students with an opportunity to attend a national or international enrichment program next summer. The awards are open to those students that consistently demonstrate academic excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and who will be completing Level II by June 2013.

“These students are about to make some critical decisions in terms of post-secondary education that will impact their career paths and research interests in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister Responsible for RDC. “I challenge our province’s principals, teachers, parents and guardians to encourage their highest-achieving students to apply for these awards, as they are designed to provide students with experiences that could significantly contribute to their careers.”

Last year, RDC received applications from school districts across the province resulting in 11 high school students receiving a RISE Award. These students attended programs in Canada and the United States during summer 2012, learning from innovative scientists, researchers and teachers.

“Opportunities provided through the RISE Awards enhance the quality programming and teaching offered as part of the K-12 school system in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education. “To be selected for a RISE Award is a tremendous achievement and I strongly encourage students to apply for these awards. The knowledge and skills they gain will benefit them throughout their school days and beyond.”

As Newfoundland and Labrador continues to diversify its economy, RDC has been mandated to identify potential leaders in the research and development (R&D) community.

“There is considerable interest in our RISE Awards from all over the province,” said Glenn Janes, CEO, RDC. “The RISE Awards is a program designed to cultivate a new generation of R&D leaders, build a culture of innovation and strengthen Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy for the future.”

Building on the success from last year, RDC is supporting a new enrichment program this year. Students on Ice is an award-winning program which provides students with education and research opportunities through a ship- and land-based Arctic expedition. RDC will fund a maximum of two students to attend the program next year.

In addition to Students on Ice, RDC will continue to sponsor up to two Newfoundland and Labrador Level II graduates to attend the prestigious Research Science Institute in July 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. A partnership between the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) in McLean, Virginia, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Research Science Institute offers a six-week summer enrichment program focused on advanced theory and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Successful RISE Award recipients will also be chosen to attend Shad Valley and Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP). Shad Valley is a four-week program held across 10 Canadian university campuses, including Memorial University, which centres on bringing science, technology, engineering and mathematics research and entrepreneurship together. DEEP is a four-week program held at the University of Toronto which offers pre-university engineering enrichment and research project opportunities.

Further details on the supported enrichment programs, awards structure, deadlines and applications are available online at www.rdc.org .

More information about the RISE Awards will be available on the program’s Facebook page (RISE Awards RDC) and on Twitter, @RDC NL, #RISEAWARDS. The awards will also be promoted in schools and communities throughout the province.

This year’s deadline is November 8, 2012.

The Research & Development Corporation is a provincial Crown corporation responsible for improving Newfoundland and Labrador’s R&D performance. RDC works with R&D stakeholders including business, academia and government agencies and departments. In Budget 2012: People and Prosperity – Responsible Investments for a Secure Future, RDC was allocated $19 million to make strategic research and development related investments in people, research opportunities and infrastructure. For more information about RDC, go to www.rdc.org .

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Media contacts:

Jeff Green
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Research & Development Corporation
709-758-0973, 691-8892
jeffsgreen@rdc.org
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca 

Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca
 

2012 10 04             10:45 a.m.

 
 
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