The Minister for Natural Resources Fergus O’Dowd announced 20 new marine research jobs today at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin.
The jobs will created for research as part of INFOMAR, the national marine mapping programme conducted by the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Marine Institute. The research is being funded by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The jobs originate from the latest round of funded research following previous programmes which covered 3D visualisation to cold water coral studies. The projects will run for up to a year and could lead to commercial development at the end.
“I am particularly pleased to be able to announce the successful programme, while visiting the young scientists exhibition, which showcases the scientific talent being developed in Ireland,” said O’Dowd.
“The 23 projects being funded under INFOMAR range from evaluations of tidal energy sites, to studies of Dublin Bay and development of an online marine resources game.
“All the projects build on the vast amount of data being gathered under our national marine mapping programme, and represent the real-world projects that can contribute to the economy and employ our young scientists in the future,” said O’Dowd.
The announcement was made at the Geological Survey of Ireland’s stand at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, which is taking place this week.
A team of professional geologists will be displaying a range of activities which show the formation of precious rocks, minerals and landscape.
It hosts exhibitions from the Tellus Border, INFOMAR and Groundwater Protection projects, along with work from the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies and the Natural History Museum of Ireland.