Today, the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, along with the Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Education, announced $282,000 in support for Brilliant Labs – a hands-on technology and experimental learning platform that supports the integration of creativity, innovation, coding and entrepreneurial spirit within classrooms. This funding also allowed Brilliant Labs to leverage additional funding from other partners.
Through this support, Brilliant Labs will continue delivery of its coding and technology education to students in the K-12 school system throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and expand its reach through program activity outside the traditional classroom setting.
Over the last two years in this province, Brilliant Labs has been able to reach over 83 per cent of provincial school; has engaged in professional learning for all grade six science teachers and all grade eight math teachers; and had doubled the number of schools with access to 3D printing. This success is based on partnerships with the education sector, schools, community, industry, non-profit groups and various levels of government.
The Brilliant Labs Innovation Fund, continuous Professional Learning for educators, Maker Series, makerspace development, after-school and summer programs and community-based learning and competitions are all programs that will continue with this support.
The Newfoundland and Labrador tech sector is already estimated at a value of $1.6 billion, with approximately 165 companies and 4,000 employees; and demand is expected to exceed 2,000 new tech jobs over the next three years. Awareness of the demand in the local tech sector is key to ensuring that youth and parents can start planning early to take advantage of the opportunities.
Quotes
“Brilliant Labs is helping to prepare our youth for the exciting opportunities that exist in the technology sector of our province – both by providing experience with coding and lighting that entrepreneurial spirit in students so they realize the potential that is out there for them. I look forward to seeing all the exciting things Brilliant Labs has in store for the students of our province.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“Through our partnership with Brilliant Labs, we are providing youth with the opportunity to develop the expertise they need to succeed. Increasing opportunities for coding and technology in the K-12 school system is ensuring students can become innovators, educators, researchers, and leaders of tomorrow.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Education
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue to work with Newfoundland and Labrador’s innovative educators and youth. This will give us a the ability to build on the efforts of the past two years, and in collaboration with the province, teachers, and our public and private sector partners, to really push what is possible in classrooms and communities as we help prepare the next generation of researchers, engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to better support the talent pipeline needed to help the exciting opportunities being developed by the province’s technology sector.”
Jeff Willson
Executive Director, Brilliant Labs
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Media contacts
Lisa Lawlor
Industry, Energy and Technology
709-729-5777, 631-8155
Lisalawlor@gov.nl.ca
Tina Coffey
Education
709-729-1906, 687-9903
tcoffey@gov.nl.ca
John Barron
Brilliant Labs
709-727-4952
john@brilliantlabs.ca