Marine Institute receives royal visitor

The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland was the site of a royal visit on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as his Royal Highness Prince Charles took a tour of MI and its facilities as part of a three-day visit to Newfoundland and Labrador

The Prince of Wale came to MI to meet Marine Institute officials and researchers, as well as members of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), a student group from Memorial University. The Marine Institute and SIFE were included in the Prince’s visit to the province in part because of his interest in marine conservation and youth entrepreneurship.

“We were delighted that the Prince of Wales decided to visit the Marine Institute during his trip to the province,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, MI. “We very much enjoyed showcasing the Marine Institute’s education and research capabilities with him, especially the area of marine conservation where he had the opportunity to engage with local researchers in a discussion on fisheries conservation and environmental sustainability.”

Dr. Christopher W. Loomis, president and vice chancellor pro tempore of Memorial University of Newfoundland, said he was pleased the university had the opportunity to welcome the Prince to Newfoundland and Labrador. “The Marine Institute, recognized as a global leader in marine research, and nationally recognized SIFE, Memorial’s community-based entrepreneurship, are excellent examples of the calibre of people and resources we have at Memorial,” he said. “The inclusion of Memorial on the official itinerary for the Prince of Wales is quite a distinction and an excellent opportunity to showcase our world-class facilities and students.”

The Prince of Wales viewed MI’s flume tank alongside Blackwood and spoke with MI researchers about fisheries conservation, ocean sciences, marine ecosystems and sustainable aquatic resources. Following the discussion and demonstrations of fishing conservation technology in the flume tank, the Prince of Wales met with SIFE, a student group dedicated to creating local solutions to global economic challenges through entrepreneurship.

Dr. Lilly Walker, dean of Memorial Student Affairs and Services, was the university’s official host for the royal visit. She praised Prince Charles for his interest in the student group. “The Prince of Wales is a strong supporter of youth entrepreneurship, so we are excited to introduce him to our extraordinary SIFE Memorial team,” said Dr. Walker. “These 90 or so students have made significant contributions to their communities and I have no doubt that the representatives from the group chosen to showcase four of their projects will be excellent ambassadors for Memorial University and Newfoundland and Labrador.”