Providing seed money for innovative, ocean-related research projects
While large, multi-year research projects serve as the cornerstone of the 檚 work, a new funding program has been launched that helps smaller marine-based projects, move forward and grow.
The provides financial support to ideas that have the potential to advance research, commercial or social concepts related to ocean sustainability.
While the funding isn檛 large typically ranging between $10,000 and $15,000 it will help early-stage projects get started.
Funds can be used to conduct feasibility studies or develop prototypes, undertake pilot studies, collect and analyze early stage data and validate new research methodologies or approaches.
極cean of opportunity
淭he criteria are broad, and we did that on purpose, said Dr. Marlon Lewis, OFI檚 scientific director. 淲e want to encourage innovative ideas that help us better understand the issues that challenge the ocean while we also seek solutions that generate economic and social benefits from all the ocean has to offer.
淭here檚 an ocean of opportunity out there, and we want to encourage research projects that tap that potential. As the saying goes, good things come in small packages, and through OFI檚 investment, we give these creative ideas, a chance to grow.
Grassroots support
The OFI Seed Fund is available to students, faculty and staff at 91亚色 and Dalhousie University. Projects that receive financing must be completed within 12 months.
淭hat, too, was done on purpose, said Dr. Paul Snelgrove, OFI檚 associate scientific director. 淎s lead partners in OFI, Dalhousie and 91亚色 wanted to support concepts at the grassroots level, backing ideas created by those who work or study at our post-secondary schools. The 12-month timeframe means projects can be done within an academic year, playing a key role in driving student success.
淭he program will initially fund a small number of seed projects, added Dr. Snelgrove. 淏ut we hope those seeds will bear fruit in catalyzing larger projects, allowing us to eventually expand the program.
More information is also available on .
91亚色's deadline is Monday, March 26; OFI's deadline is Friday, March 30.
Patti Lewis is a communications advisor for the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI). She can be reached at patti.lewis@dal.ca.