STUDENT CONNECTION
MEDITERRANEAN MYSTERIES
RV HERCULES, BAR, MONTENEGRO. PHOTO CREDIT: WILLIAM GLATT
In 2012, London, ON native Will Glatt arrived at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University (MI) to study in the Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV Operator) — Technician Diploma program. Little did he know that it would lead him to the ancient shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. “I wanted to attend a school where I wouldn’t just be a number in a classroom. I wanted high student teacher ratios, hands on learning and flexibility with regards to the amount of time I spent on my education and MI met all of that criteria and then some,” said Mr. Glatt. After spending many years with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Mr. Glatt developed an interest in working on
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the water. He knew he wanted a career that allowed him to travel and explore but also had variety and enabled him to work with his hands. He quickly realized that a career working with ROVs and underwater vehicles met those goals.
Foundation (RPMNF), through Highland Geo Solutions — an adventure that has allowed him to complete work in Europe.
“I grew up reading classic science fiction by authors such as Robert Heinlien, Issac Assimov and Frank Herbert. Learning about technology and technical skills strongly appealed to me and my decision to pursue a career in underwater vehicles felt natural,” he says.
In July 2014, Mr. Glatt met RPMNF's Research Vessel Hercules in Albania where he and the team surveyed up the coast to Montenegro and Croatia, then back down the Adriatic. The experience then took him to Malta to complete the survey season. During summer 2015, he met the vessel in Trapani, Italy before continuing across to the Adriatic for ROV operations in Albania and Montenegro.
As part of the ROV program, students get practical work term experience. For the past two summers, Mr. Glatt has worked with RPM Nautical
“For the first summer, I was brought onboard as a survey technician to operate a sector scan sonar and process data collected by an AUV,”