This week, I have been researching the concept of an Innovation Hub in Lawrencetown. Within the NSCC context, we have two examples: Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) in Dartmouth and the Pictou Innovation Hub.
The difference at COGS is that we have a specialized suite of technologies: Geomatics or Geographic Sciences, and we live in a more rural environment. (This rural environment provides a likely explanation for the residency component).
One of the characteristics of a rural environment is that it attracts a wide range of retired talent from across the country and beyond and those who have rejected the more urban lifestyle.
To reflect the diversity of knowledge and experience available to the Innovation Hub, my suggestion is that we need a community brains trust. This group could include:
- current faculty/ research scientists
- retired faculty/ research scientists
- local business leaders
- community members who have chosen Annapolis County
- rural residents
- members of the ‘creative rural economy’ (see CRE, for example)
We should not be exclusive. I can imagine GIS business interests in both California and Ontario. There are also supporters living outside of rural Nova Scotia, who would want to see an alternative model of community engagement succeed.
Check out the business interests at COVE and the Pictou Innovation Hub.
Can we imagine a similar suite of business interests in Lawrencetown?
Or does the rural setting bring forward a different relationship to land and life?
I found the following quotation from Carl Sauer in Land and Life: A Selection from the Writings of Carl Ortwin Sauer. From ‘The Education of a Geographer’ (1956).
“We are aware that what we do will determine for good or evil the lives of those who will come after us. And therefore, we geographers, least of all, can fail to think on the place of man in nature, of the whole of ecology. Man’s intervention in and disturbance of the organic and inorganic world has become so accelerated that we may be tempted to escape from the present into a future in which technology has mastery over all matter, and thus promises forgiveness and redemption. But will it? Is that our fated way? Is that the sort of world we want?” p.404.
Reference
Carl Ortwin Sauer. From ‘The Education of a Geographer’ 1956. University of California Press.
Acknowledgements
Wayne St-Amour provided the links to COVE and the Pictou Innovation Hub.
Brian Arnott has discussed the importance of trust in the community context.
Heather has shared the joys of dog walking, as well as taking care of feeding the birds.
Edward Wedler did his enthusiastic bit with the graphics.
Ernest Blair Experiment 
Hi Bob
This is interesting, on innovation. And I like the quote from Carl Sauer.
I hope all is well with you. Ghastly weather here right now, and coming at the end of a seemingly endless – though mild – winter. I was meant to be going to Cambodia today (for the mag), but I decided not to a couple of weeks ago, because of the prospect of being quarantined at some point in the travel (we were due to go via Hong Kong and Bangkok). It was a hard decision – the trip looked fantastic (cultural gastronomy in 4 parts of the country). And I’ll never get the opportunity again. But I figured it would be irresponsible to do it. Now, with flights into London getting cancelled right left and centre, I’m glad I made that decision. But…… sob!!
It’s Jordan instead, next month. And the angle is rural food tourism, so I’m much looking forward to it.
Meantime, the general atmosphere here matches the weather. Cheers, Rosie
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