The money will fund numerous undergraduate and graduate awards for students who are engaged in geomatics-related areas. (Photo:LNN)

By Joel Mendelson

University of Lethbridge geomatics program earns significant financial support

Oct 23, 2023 | 5:43 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Canadian non-profit TECTERRA has invested $1.3 million in the University of Lethbridge (U of L), with a focus on the geomatics program.

The money was invested in a Legacy Program for Alberta-based universities. The Legacy Program offers financial aid and support for undergraduate and post-graduate geomatics students.

Geomatics is a branch of science which entails collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data relating to Earth’s surface.

The U of L, University of Calgary, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), and Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) are each receiving a portion of the $5.2 million investment from TECTERRA.

At the UofL, the money will fund numerous undergraduate and graduate awards for students who are engaged in geomatics-related areas, It will also be used to grow the capacity of the faculty. The school’s Board of Governors will be matching a portion of the donation as part of its commitment to student scholarships and bursaries.

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Dr. Craig Coburn, professor and Chair of the Department of Geography and Environment said, “Providing financial support for our future leaders breaks down financial barriers that prevent students from being able to commit to their education full-time.”

He continued, “With this strong financial support at the undergraduate and graduate level, unique programs, such as our undergraduate major in Remote Sensing, will continue to grow by attracting great students. Additionally, the graduate funding contribution is also important as it will allow students to pursue geospatial science and contribute to Alberta’s vibrant geospatial community.”

Established in 2010, TECTERRA is a non-profit organization that assists geomatics technology companies and educators in Alberta.

Board chair at TECTERRA, Monty Carter said, “TECTERRA is excited to embark on this new journey of collaboration with Alberta’s universities. Our aim is to fuel the geomatics industry’s growth by nurturing the tablets of young minds, fostering innovation and bridging academia with industry. Together, we’ll shape a bright future for geospatial technology in Alberta and Canada.”

Dr. Chris Hopkinson, a researcher in the Department of Geography & Environment and the Advanced Resolution Terradynamics Monitoring System Laboratory (ARTeMiS) said, “For the last decade, TECTERRA has supported growth and promoted innovation and commercialization across Canada’s geospatial technology sectors.”

He continued, “It’s great to see these Legacy Program investments to Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, where funds will support and reward innovations by emerging geospatial scholars, leaders and entrepreneurs.”

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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