25 third-level students join the Marine Institute for summer science placements

Bursay Students 2018. Photo Cushla DromgoolReganTwenty-five third level undergraduates have joined the Marine Institute this summer to gain work experience in variety of areas including fish and shellfish assessment and monitoring, catchment research, and the management of the national research vessels as well as maritime finance.

The Marine Institute's annual Bursary Scheme is already well underway with students from a wide range of disciplines from all over Ireland taking part in a variety of exciting 8-12 week programmes. Helen McCormick, Senior Laboratory Analyst at the Marine Institute, explains, "The bursary programme gives students an opportunity to gain valuable experience within their chosen subject field. Previous bursars have gained various positions within the Marine Institute at all grades up to and including Director level."

The bursars are working at a variety of different sites all over the country, with many in the Marine Institute at Oranmore, and others working from the Institute's catchment research facility in Newport, Co. Mayo. Bursars are also working at local sites in Cork, Waterford and Derry, where they are taking part in wild salmon assessment and fisheries sampling.

Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute, welcomes the students, saying "the marine bursary is an extremely well-established scheme that strives to provide students with the necessary skills they will need to succeed in areas related to marine science. The Institute is delighted to support this excellent learning opportunity for Irish students."

Many of the students will be taking part in exciting research projects in laboratories, whereas others will be working with the policy team and the communications department in corporate services.

Ocean literacy and communication are a huge part of the bursar experience at the Marine Institute and so over the next month, many of the students will be helping with the Our Ocean Wealth Summit and SeaFest 2018, which take place at the end of this month in Galway city.