The OFI Seed Fund criteria are broad, and we did that on purpose, says Paul Snelgrove, OFI’s associate scientific director. “We 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.
“There’s an ocean of opportunity out there, and we want to attract research projects that tap that potential. As the saying goes, good things come in small packages, and through OFI’s investment, we give these creative ideas, a chance to grow.”
Who is eligible
The OFI Seed Fund is available to students, faculty and staff at Dalhousie University and Memorial University of Newfoundland. Projects that receive financing must be completed within 12 months.
“As lead partners in OFI, Dal and MUN wanted to support concepts at the grassroots level, backing ideas created by those who work or study at our post-secondary schools. The program will initially fund a small number of seed projects,” adds Dr. Snelgrove. “But we hope those seeds will bear fruit in catalyzing larger projects, allowing us to eventually expand the program.”
