The Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador (RDC) announced today the launch of its third annual Research Inspired Student Enrichment (RISE) Awards.
The awards are directed toward high school students in the province who excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), recipients of the RISE Awards are sponsored to attend summer enrichment programs in the Arctic and throughout North America.
The RISE Awards gives opportunities for students to learn about and get a sense of careers in R&D-related fields. The program feels that it provides the groundwork for students to make educated decisions regarding their study and career choices.
“It’s extremely important to give our future generation these kinds of opportunities,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister Responsible for RDC. “High school students are about to embark on major life decisions, and by giving them this sort of early exposure to research-related fields, our future scientists, engineers and researchers get a first-hand look at research in action.”
Newfoundland and Labrador Students in “Level II” with an average of at least 90 percent across all courses completed in “level I” are encouraged to apply to the RISE Awards by November 7.
Through the enrichment programs, students will attend workshops and lectures held by university professors, researchers and field experts, and partake in research-related activities. The programs seem quite awesome for any 16 or 17 year old. They could go to the Research Science Institute (RSI) based in Cambridge, MA or the Students on Ice program, where students participate in an expedition to the Arctic. Other programs include the Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP) located at the University of Toronto, or Shad Valley, which takes place at various university campuses across Canada.
“I encourage all level II students who excel in the STEM subjects to apply for this award,” said RDC’s CEO Glenn Janes. “After two successful years of the RISE Awards, we have heard from several students who benefited from the programs and gained both research knowledge and a better understanding of what they want to do with their futures. It’s inspiring to hear that these students are going on to do great things. I am proud to present this opportunity to another group of well deserving young researchers.”
Students who want to find out more about the RISE Awards as well as the recognized enrichment programs should visit www.rdc.org.
The RDC is a provincial Crown corporation responsible for improving Newfoundland and Labrador’s R&D performance in business, academia and government agencies and departments.