COVE Announces the Exploring Opportunities in Ocean Tech for Young Women Program Launch
The program builds a pathway for young women across Nova Scotia in grades 10-12 to explore career opportunities and innovations in the ocean technology industry.
20 January 2021 (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) – The Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) in partnership with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development – Nova Scotia, Ignite Labs, Dalhousie University’s Emera IDEAhub and DeepSense, and with support from IBM Canada and Engineers Nova Scotia, is thrilled to announce the launch of a program aimed at engaging young women in the region’s burgeoning ocean tech industry. Exploring Opportunities in Ocean Tech for Young Women is an extracurricular program being offered across the province to youth in grades 10-12 as part of a strategy to attract more under-represented groups to the marine industry. Featuring a monthly speaker series, mentoring program, and hands-on design-thinking workshop, this program will be led by women, for women.
Exploring Opportunities in Ocean Tech for Young Women connects young women in the Western, Northern & Central Nova Scotia regions to female role models in the ocean tech industry to build their awareness of the many applications of engineering across the industry, develop their understanding of what engineering is and how it contributes to innovation across the broad industry. Through the program, students will gain awareness of the skills required and develop pathways to engineering and technology careers in the industry. The program provides young women with tangible real-world experiences, ranging from engineering to computer science with the opportunity to explore both theoretical and practical applications.
The flexible learning program highlights four key ocean tech sectors and related technologies:
- Aquaculture and fishing
- Shipbuilding and boat building
- Marine renewable energy
- Marine observation and conservation
The program will launch in January 2021, with registration open since January 13th. While COVID-19 restrictions remain in place, the program will be offered virtually, and move to in-person as it becomes safe to gather again.
For more details or to register as a student or as a mentor, please go to https://tinyurl.com/yyxb8jl8
The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is investing $20,000 to support this program.
“The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is excited to partner with COVE in supporting this important learning opportunity for young women in Nova Scotia. Ocean tech is a sector with incredible growth potential and creating more pathways for young women to be a part of it will enhance our ability to innovate and be successful.”
— HONOURABLE ZACH CHURCHILL, MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA
“At COVE we’ve been delivering exciting, hands-on programming to youth for several years now. For this
program we wanted to really engage young women in the province by connecting them with other female
roles models and mentors who can show them that the ocean tech industry is place where they can
explore and build careers. COVE is committed to engaging more under-represented workers in the
industry, and this is one more approach we are using to do so.”
— DR. SHERRY SCULLY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COVE
“Data, analytics and artificial intelligence are a critical aspect of our economic future. Despite an increase in the number of women enrolling in STEM programs, there remains a considerable gap in gender in data and artificial intelligence fields. This program is part of a concerted effort to introduce STEM to younger females, striving to create a strong gender balance in critical roles related to data science and analytics. Providing young women with the opportunity to learn in a safe and inclusive environment will better prepare us for a future of much needed diversity within data science and other STEM related fields.”
— JENNIFER LAPLANTE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEEPSENSE
“This is a valuable opportunity for girls to better understand the true scope of possibilities available to them in the ocean tech industry. Early exposure to technology and skill development helps prepare for future success and can empower girls to explore career paths they may not have considered before. IBM has been a supporter of STEM programs for decades, and we are thrilled to be a part of this one with COVE.”
— LYNN CLARK, LEADER OF THE IBM CANADA CLIENT INNOVATION CENTRE, NOVA SCOTIA
“IGNITE is focused on creating opportunities for youth in the vital industries in Nova Scotia. By providing
opportunities for young women to explore science and technology careers in the ocean sector we are
helping to build and diversify the future of the sector for Nova Scotia.”
— DOUG JONES, FOUNDER AND CEO, IGNITE LABS
“Dalhousie’s Emera ideaHUB is home to a community of students, faculty members, and companies who
are focused on developing and building innovative physical products. A healthy ocean means a healthy
planet and connecting youth to opportunities for ideation and innovation is paramount to ensuring we are solving the global challenges facing us today and in the future.”
— MARGARET PALMETER, DIRECTOR, EMERA IDEAHUB AT DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
