UPEI students awarded new CASTL scholarships

News release issued by the PEI BioAlliance on behalf of the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL)

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) announced today Financial Awards of $5,000 for 32 post-secondary students across Atlantic Canada to support their academic studies in life sciences. This Financial Award program will support life sciences students enrolled in co-operative education from Acadia University, Université de Moncton and the University of Prince Edward Island, who will each receive scholarships in their second and third years. 

“We are thrilled to be able to support students pursuing an education in life sciences through this newly launched Financial Award program,” said Christopher Gillis, Executive Director, CASTL. “Life sciences continues to be an area of high demand, and students involved with CASTL will have the opportunity to combine their academic theory with hands-on skill development, preparing them to kickstart a career in life sciences, with a competitive edge.” 

Launched this fall, the CASTL Financial Award program is supported by the Government of Canada, the Future Skills Centre, and the Government of Prince Edward Island. 

From COVID 19 vaccines and diagnostics, to understanding climate change and feeding the world sustainably, life sciences is a key pillar of our economy. CASTL combines life sciences academic theory with hands-on skills development to build capacity for real-world performance. CASTL delivers on the economic and sectoral demand for individuals who are work-ready to enter, thrive and meet the needs of the Canadian bioscience industry.  

“We are delighted to award the inaugural CASTL Financial Awards to 15 Acadia students who will be engaging in work-integrated learning experiences in the life sciences," said Suzie Currie, Dean of Pure and Applied Science, Acadia University. "This exciting new initiative has the overall vision of training and educating the next generation of highly skilled bioscience professionals who will grow bioscience in the Maritimes and across Canada. The goal of the program is to marry the richness of a traditional liberal education in pure and applied science with industry-specific, applied science attributes. Students will graduate with significant work-integrated-learning and professional experience as well as a firm grounding in fundamental science, ready for a career in the life sciences sector.” 

Pandurang Ashrit, Dean of Science, Université de Moncton, said, “Université de Moncton is extremely pleased to partner with the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences in its efforts to support our students by providing them with experiential learning opportunities in the cutting-edge field of biosciences. The funding provided will not only allow students to gain practical work experience, but it also addresses an urgent need in the Canadian biosciences sector. The program thereby contributes to economic growth in the region, which benefits everyone.” 

“We are delighted that a number of our students have been awarded these scholarships, which will offer support and recognition as they continue their studies in the life sciences," said Nola Etkin, Dean of Science, University of Prince Edward Island. "UPEI has a dynamic and flourishing co-op program that offers students, in a wide range of disciplines, the opportunity to gain real-life, relevant work experience. We are very pleased to have this opportunity to work with the CASTL team to ensure that our students have enhanced access to these valuable training opportunities.” 

CASTL is a first-of-its-kind partnership between academia, industry, and government to address the future skills needs of the Canadian life sciences sector. Founding partners include: PEI BioAlliance, Acadia University, Holland College, Université de Moncton, University of Prince Edward Island, Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, BioTalent Canada, the National Research Council, and BioVectra. 

For more information on CASTL, visit peibioalliance.com/castl.