The AMETHYST Program: The NSERC CREATE Experience

This paper reports on the experience of the AMETHYST program at the University of Lethbridge. The Advanced Methods, Education and Training in Hyperspectral Science and Technology program was awarded an NSERC CREATE in 2010 as one of the first of these grants awarded to Canadian universities to focus on the training of students in science. The purpose of the NSERC CREATE program was to support training students (at various levels from undergraduate to post-doctoral) to expand opportunities by funding nontraditional training programs. The AMETHYST program has trained over 30 students and created a program that provides an enriched experience in hyperspectral imaging science and remote sensing. The program included both student professional development and collaborative experiences beyond what is normally experienced in cooperative education models. This model was developed with the view to program continuation past the grant’s end point. While the program was successful, NSERC’s attitude towards funding graduate students fails to meet the future needs for training HQP in Canada.