1978-03-31. MUN Gazette, vol. 10, no. 15

              Vol. 10, No. 15, St. John's, Newfoundland, Friday, March 31, 1978.
$675,000
Major Grant to MSRL
Federal Fisheries Minister Romeo LeBlanc announced March 13 that the
Federal Government has awarded $675,000 to Memorial University's Marine
Sciences Research Laboratory (M.S.R.L.).
In advising the University of the decision, Mr. LeBlanc in a letter to
President Morgan said the grant "acknowledges Memorial University's strong and
continuing support to the Marine Sciences Research Laboratory".
Mr. Len Cowley, Director-
General of the Federal Fisheries and
Marine Services in Newfoundland,
representing Mr. LeBlanc, met with
President Morgan on March 28 and
presented a cheque for $75,000, an
initial grant covering the current fiscal
year (April 1977 - March 1978). In
1978-79, and for each of the three
fiscal years after that, the grant will be
$150,000.
Dr. Morgan, in expressing
appreciation for the support, said the
grarit vindicates the University's
decision to establish the M.S.R.L. and
its continuing commitment to marine
sciences. "We have demonstrated our
interest in the seas around us and our
fisheries in the most practical way," he
said. "It is particularly gratifying that
Federal support is forthcoming at just
the time when our ability to carry on
was threatened by financial concerns.
In a prepared press release, Mr.
LeBlanc said, "(the M.S.R.L.) conducts research in areas of specific
interest to the Fisheries and Marine
Service and provides programmes and
expertise essential to the enhancement
of Atlantic Fisheries resources."
Since its opening in 1967, the
M.S.R.L. has made available research
facilities to Canadian Government
scientists as well as University faculty
and students.
The new grants cover a variety
of M.S.R.L. needs. In addition to
ensuring that past programmes of
research and the services of the diving
facility are maintained, the support
will enable facilities to be provided to
support co-operative research with
scientists of the Marine and Fisheries
Dr. Idler, Mr. L. Cowley and President Morgan
Service, and to establish programmes
to provide training for students
specializing in fisheries and aquatic
sciences.
Dr. David Idler, Director of the
M.S.R.L., said it is his hope that the
federal funding will enable the establishment of scholarship programmes to
encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in Marine Science.
Facts and Fun at Open House
As our cover picture shows you could really get turned on at the Open
House held at Memorial University on March 18th. Arranged by the M.U.N.
Chemistry Club the day-long programme attracted several thousand visitors to
the campus.
With the exception of the education building every academic building on
campus had exhibits. Every half hour a bus ran between the chemistry,
engineering and medical sciences buildings. There were displays of minerals and
fossils and people could have a look at waves being made in the
Engineering-Geology Building. In the Chemistry Building, see picture,
there were displays of electronic gadgetry to be investigated and static electricity
to set your hair on end. Visitors could take a look at the poisons in cigarettes,
see a laser display, meet a cave man and play tic-tac-toe with a computer.
The organization and co-ordination for the days programme was done by
Memorial University Students who are members of the Chemistry Club. Robert
Tock, a third year undergraduate majoring in chemistry, was responsible for
directing the operation that gave so many an interesting insight into some of the
research going on at Memorial.