NS YES! News Archive
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Science, Communications and Blueberries
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Posted: April 28, 2006
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Science Fair winners learn that science plays vital role in success of Maritime business.
HALIFAX, NS - Science is about having fun, developing a unique idea and be willing to take the risk to implement it. Those were some of the thoughts EastLink Co-Chief Executive Officer Lee
Bragg shared with over 100 students and special guests during the Team Nova Scotia
Showcase. The event is hosted by Nova Scotia Youth Experiences in Science.
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Bragg, who acted as keynote speaker, told the audience that science is a vital part of his family's businesses and spoke directly to the link between the communications and entertainment business and the blueberry business. While stressing the importance of developing a unique idea, Bragg explained being willing to take a risk is what lead to the company's success in the local telephone market.
'By utilizing the science behind fiber optics technology, and our knowledge of how video moves around the network, EastLink was able to bring the two technologies together. This enabled EastLink to launch telephone service over a network that was historically used to deliver cable television,' said Bragg. 'To those who were skeptical of our decision seven years ago, I can easily now point to our record. We were successful. We were the first cable company in Canada to launch telephone service and until recently, the only one. And it was because we understood the science behind the technology.'
Bragg who also discussed his inventive side spoke of the importance of developing an idea and implementing it. Speaking from his own experience, he highlighted his first year in the beekeeping business and the need to develop a structure that would allow for transport of four bee hives at one time to a blue berry field. The bees are used to pollinate the blueberry blooms. Bragg said, 'By modifying a standard wood pallet and using some existing technology on the farm, we were able to increase the number of bee hives that could be transported at one time. However, while the design has worked well, I have noticed similar structures on beekeeping farms across the country.' Bragg laughed as he jokingly added, 'I guess I should have patented the design.'
'We are delighted to help them see the connections between the study of science and the potential in Atlantic Canada to turn creative thinking into business opportunities,' said Cliff Coveyduc, program director of Nova Scotia Youth Experiences in Science, the provincial umbrella organization for science fairs. 'NSYES is proud to celebrate the achievements of our young people and we are confident they will make major contributions to the scientific and economic life of Nova Scotia in the future.'
The Team Nova Scotia Show case brings together all students headed to the national science fair for an open house exhibit. The students will participate in a variety of educational, social and cultural activities geared to build team spirit and give them exposure to the scientific community.
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About EastLink
Operating from its headquarters in Halifax, Nova Scotia, EastLink is the fifth largest cable company in Canada and was the first to offer customers local telephone service over a state-of-the-art digital network. EastLink's 700 employees provide a range of communications, entertainment & advertising services to business and residential customers across the Maritimes. For more information on EastLink and its products and services, visit www.eastlink.ca.
About Nova Scotia Youth Experiences in Science
Nova Scotia Youth Experiences in Science's (NSYES) mission is to initiate, promote and support science experiences for Nova Scotia youth and celebrate the accomplishments of our young scientists. NSYES is a not-for-profit organization.
NSYES is supported by EnCana Corporation, Nova Scotia Department of Education, Nova Scotia Office of Economic Development, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Aliant, Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, Emera, Global Television, The Chronicle Herald, and by the many other organizations and individuals who support our young scientists through the Team Nova Scotia Showcase.
The NSYES Web site at www.sciencefairinfo.ns.ca is filled with tools to assist students, teachers and parents.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Paula Sibley
Communications Specialist
EastLink
Phone: (902) 446-1939
Fax: 453-2118
E-mail: paula.sibley@corp.eastlink.ca
Steven Stewart
Communications Officer
Nova Scotia Youth Experiences in Science
Phone: (902) 424-5432
E-mail: stews@gov.ns.ca
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Nova Scotia Youth
Experiences in Science
2021 Brunswick Street, PO Box 578
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2S9
Tel (902) 424-8641
Fax (902) 424-0614
nsyes@sciencefairinfo.ns.ca
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