Students Showcase Energy Research

Energy research was taken out of the lab and into the hallways of St. Francis Xavier University's Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre today, May 13. Twenty-one graduate students from universities such as Queen's, Acadia and Dalhousie displayed their work to more than 200 delegates at Nova Scotia's first Energy Research and Development Forum.

Andrew Henry, a forum steering committee member and co-ordinator of Energy @ Dalhousie, said it is important to involve the science and engineering graduate students because they are the researchers of the future.

"By bringing students together with other researchers and industry representatives, we are connecting them to the research priorities of today and tomorrow," said Mr. Henry.

Students have also found value in this event. Adam Donald, an engineering graduate student at Dalhousie is presenting his work entitled "Pore Pressure Using Quality Factor", which predicts pressures of a reservoir's capacity to drill safely and economically. He said the forum is a chance to connect with people currently working in the energy industry.

"The questions I am being asked here at the forum are important," said Mr. Donald. "Without being challenged by others, the work does not progress. You get answers from people's questions."

The Energy Research and Development Forum is a provincial initiative sponsored by the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), with support from Petroleum Research Atlantic Canada. For more information visit the website at www.energyresearch.ca/forum2004 .