The province and Pengrowth Energy Corporation have teamed up again to help graduate students pursue energy research.

Andrea Christians, a master’s student in earth science at Dalhousie University in Halifax, is this year’s recipient of the $15,000 Energy Innovation Grant.

The grant is awarded to a master’s level student with research focused on the energy industry.

“The province is thrilled to partner in a program that supports student research and offers a chance to help improve the energy sector,” said Energy Minister Andrew Younger. “The grant provides educational opportunities for students to help make a difference. I want to congratulate Ms. Christians for receiving this year’s award and look forward to seeing her work progress.”

Ms. Christians, a native of Halifax, is studying the impact of salt tectonics structural features on the surrounding sediments in the Scotian slope.

“This grant enables research into the evolution of the Scotian Slope salt structures and their implications for
offshore petroleum exploration,” said Ms. Christians.

The Pengrowth-Nova Scotia Energy Innovation Grant was established in 2005 for beginning master’s students in business, engineering, environmental science or earth science at a Nova Scotia university.

“Pengrowth is happy to work with the province every year to support the future leaders in the Nova Scotia energy sector,” said Jim MacDonald, director of Pengrowth’s East Coast operations. “Their research will benefit the current and future energy industry.”

The deadline for applications for the 2014 Pengrowth-Nova Scotia Energy Innovation Grant is Jan. 17. For more information, or to apply, visit www.novascotia.ca/energy.

Pengrowth Management Limited was founded by Jim Kinnear in 1982. Mr. Kinnear also founded Pengrowth Energy Trust, which later became Pengrowth Energy Corporation, in 1988.

Source: Release