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Looking back on Let’s Talk Science Summer Camp in Sandy Lake

December 11, 2012

This past summer five Let’s Talk Science Outreach volunteers from the University of Toronto were invited to Sandy Lake First Nation to oversee the 2nd Annual Let’s Talk Science Sandy Lake Science Camp which ran from August 20^th to 24^th.

Over 70 children and youth, of ages ranging from 6 to 16 years, attended the camp. The curriculum was developed to include various scientific disciplines, Indigenous Knowledge and education principals. The scientific disciplines that were included in the curriculum included: Nutritional Science and Applied Human Nutrition, Physiology and Anatomy, Exercise Science, Pharmacology, Information Technology, and Botany. In line with Let’s Talk Science’s education platform, Sandy Lake’s preference, and time-tested education principals, the campers learned about science through hands-on activities, peer teaching and storytelling.

A special thanks goes out to the amazing team who came together to make this camp possible:

Let’s Talk Science Outreach, University of Toronto volunteers:

• Shannan Grant, RD, MSc, PhD Candidate
• Julie Mason, MSc, PhD Candidate
• Thomas Curry, BSc, MSc Candidate
• Meghan Lahrin, MSc, PhD Candidate
• Peter Chen, MSc, PhD Candidate
• Zoryana Salo, PhD Candidate
• Ashleigh Wiggins, MSc Candidate
• Katie Hopperton, MSc Candidate
• Adam McKillop, MSc PhD Student
• Laura Banks, MSc, PhD Candidate
• Lilli Mauer, MSc, Research Assistant
• Chuck Chen, PhD Candidate

 Sandy Lake Health and Diabetes Project (SLHDP) Staff:

• Gary Manoakeesic
• Starsky Goodman
• Tyrone Day
• Kristen McKay
• Swan Kakepetum
• Manashe Rae

 Many thanks to the following people and organizations for financial support for the program:

• Merck Canada
• Canada Foundation for Innovation
• CIBC
• Glycemic Index Laboratories
• First Nations House, University of Toronto
• Nutritional Sciences Graduate Student Association
• Maxine Musikov
• Dr. Anthony Hanley

 For more information about Let`s Talk Science Camp or the Sandy Lake Health and Diabetes Project, please check out the following links:

http://www.sandylakediabetes.com/

http://news.utoronto.ca/let%E2%80%99s-talk-science-st-george-heads-north-science-camp

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Let’s Talk Science opens a new Outreach Site at the Grenfell Campus of Memorial University!

November 16, 2012

Let’s Talk Science is excited to share that we have a new site in operation! The Grenfell campus of Memorial University is our newest addition to the Science Outreach team.

The Grenfell campus is located in Corner Brook, on the west coast of Newfoundland. It has a large undergraduate student population, along with a growing graduate student population.

Let’s Talk Science Outreach volunteers from Memorial University have completed activities in Corner Brook before, but now that Grenfell is their own site, additional activities can occur and even more of the youth in Newfoundland and Labrador can be reached with fun, hands-on science activities!

Christine Campbell, who is head of the Science Department has stepped forward as the Site Supervisor and Sasha Fisher is the new Outreach Site Coordinator.

Even though the site is just in the beginning stages, they have had a great response from the community looking forward to our programming! Volunteers are recruited and trained and the whole team cannot wait to get started doing both community and school visits! If you would like to get into contact with the Grenfell site, please contact ltsgenfell@mun.ca

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Waswanipi Career Fair Motivates Youth

November 20, 2012

On October 17th and 18^th, volunteers from McGill University participated in the Waswanipi Career Fair in Waswanipi, Quebec.

Joining the volunteers at their booth were three special speakers; an international doctor who is completing an experimental medicine masters at McGill, a family medicine masters student and an undergraduate science student who was from an Aboriginal reserve. The Waswanipi Career Fair had approximately 200 12-18 year old Aboriginal students as well as teachers and parents.

“The very thoughtful and intelligent questions the students asked about the physiology and pathology of various organs and diseases, and of course, the incredible sense of humour of all the people that they encountered,” was the most memorable aspect of the fair explains a Let’s Talk Science volunteer.

Alongside the speakers, Let’s Talk Science volunteers at the Waswanipi Career Fair demonstrated health-related activities and showed some models of the heart, the lung, and the heart and cell organelles. The models were displayed and used to begin discussions on how those organs worked within our body systems. The volunteers also gave the students information on various careers in science that related to their interests. The volunteers engaged students in thinking about current interests and goals as well as their future. Their goal was to encourage further exploration of science and engagement in education!

Everyone that stopped at this booth gained some form of knowledge. Whether they increased their understanding of how our body works, or if they learned of a new career path to follow, they were inspired and motivated. The Let’s Talk Science Outreach volunteers from McGill were a valued part of this event, and many of the attendees and other booth workers were sad to see them leave.

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Join Let's Talk Science at STAO2012

November 15, 2012

Let's Talk Science will be once again be attending the Science Teachers' Association of Ontario conference this year. The conference takes place from today until Saturday, November 17th.

If you're attending, make sure to visit the Let's Talk Science booth and attend one of our workshops!

Let's Talk Science will also be announcing our collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency on Saturday, November 17th at 10am in room International B. Find out what new and exciting projects and programs are avialable through Let's Talk Science and the Canadian Space Agency and meet astronaut Jeremy Hansen and CBC Radio's Bob McDonald! 

Let's Talk Science Workshops at STAO2012

Making Science Relevant through STSE
Thursday, November 15
10:00 - 11:00am
Room: Ottawa
How are milk and electricity related? Find out using CurioCity by Let's Talk Science, an online website featuring free STSE-related resources in areas like health, tech, entertainment, sports, and the environment. Let's Talk Science staff will present learning strategies on how to use this content.

DNA Barcoding Project for Grade 12 Students
Thursday, November 15
11:30am - 12:30pm
Room: Hamilton
Learn about an exciting opportunity for grade 12 students to participate in DNA barcoding. The CurioCity DNA barcoding action project has been taking place over the last couple of months and the student data is now available online. In this workshop, educators can discover how their students can make a genuine contribution to the scientific community through DNA barcoding!

Hands-On, Minds-On: Engaging Youth with Science!
Thursday, November 15
2:30 - 3:30pm
Room: Paris
Test out a variety of new ideas and adaptable activities for a range of ages that will engage students in learning science. Let’s Talk Science will lead you through many science-based experiences that you can use in your classroom. Let’s be creative!

Early Science and Technology Through Inquiry
Friday, November 16
11:30am - 12:30pm
Room: Toronto A
Science and technology provide an integrated platform to engage students’ natural curiosity in exploring the natural and physical world. This session presents instructional strategies that support the development of inquiry skills.

Stem Cell Science
Friday, November 16
4:00 - 5:00pm
Room: Toronto A
Bring the exciting world of stem cell science to your students! Let’s Talk Science has developed an award-winning, multi-pronged approach for students and teachers to gain insights on topics related to stem cells. One or more may be perfect for you!