Local Programs

What We Do

Let’s Talk Science is an award-winning, national, charitable organization focused on education and outreach to support youth development. We create and deliver unique learning programs and services that engage children, youth and educators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Our volunteers engage over 78,000 youth in Ottawa, surrounding rural areas, and remote areas of Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut in a wide variety of meaningful STEM learning experiences in both school and community settings. Our trained and enthusiastic volunteers typically work with children from Kindergarten to Grade 12, delivering curriculum-aligned, hands-on, minds-on activities on a variety of topics.

Team Leaders

With over 300 volunteers each year and 3 campuses, it became difficult for our coordinators to meet all volunteers face-to-face. We developed a team leader model where experienced Let's Talk Science volunteers are assigned a team of volunteers to support. They meet face-to-face with their volunteer team to assist them with activity ideas and kit training, answer day-to-day questions, and act as liaisons between our volunteers and our coordinators.

On campus events

To book a visit or for more information, contact us.

Carleton University's Butterfly Show is being held in-person from CarletonU's Biology Department Greenhouse each year in early October.  Contact our events coordinator in September for more information and/or to register for the event.

Coral Reef Workshops (Kindergarten to Grade 12): We offer in-person and virtual tours of the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Science coral reef fish tank. Contact educators.letstalkscienceottawa@gmail.com.

Our Climate Change Symposium is held in Spring each year for Grade 9 -11 students. 

The Let's Talk Science Challenge is held in April or May each year, and is open for teams of students in Grade 6-8.  

Translational and Molecular Medicine (TMM) (Grade 11 and 12): Students are introduced to the TMM program at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, through an escape-room type activity. 

Stem Cell Talks is an enriching and informative experience for Grade 11 and 12 students. The symposium is held in person each year in the spring.  Discover more about one of the most progressive research areas in science today.  Discuss your questions with experts in the field and learn more about this topic through the many presentations available.  Contact stemcellottawa@outreach.letstalkscience.ca.

Let's Talk Cancer is held at the University of Ottawa each spring and is open to Grade 11 and 12 students.  Students will be immersed in interactive workshops and hear from experts in the field. Contact cancer.letstalkscience@gmail.com.

Ottawa Science Innovation Challenge (OSIC) is a unique opportunity for Grade 11 and 12 students. Students tackle a suggested medical problem by creating an innovative research proposal in poster format. Finalists are invited to the University of Ottawa to participate in a poster presentation. OSIC, is a partnership with the Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) at uOttawa and Let's Talk Science at uOttawa and CarletonU. For more information or to register, visit the Ottawa Science Innovation website. 
 

 

Our Achievements

Our team of volunteers at uOttawa and CarletonU have been bestowed several awards over the years. These awards are a testament to the passion that drives the daily activities of Let's Talk Science at uOttawa and CarletonU. The following awards and honourable mentions were received in the past years:

  • The University of Ottawa Let's Talk Science site is recognized by the Let's Talk Science National Office for 30 years of outreach (2023)
  • Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Dominique Bower (University of Ottawa, 2023)
  • Let's Talk Science Indigenous Outreach Project Award (University of Ottawa and Carleton University, 2023)
  • Let's Talk Science David Colcleugh Leadership Award to Amaal Abdi (University of Ottawa, 2023)
  • Let's Talk Science Indigenous Outreach Project Award (University of Ottawa and Carleton University, 2022)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science David Colcleugh Leadership Award to Amaal Abdi (University of Ottawa, 2022)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Erin Smith (University of Ottawa, 2022)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science David Colcleugh Leadership Award to Amaal Abdi (University of Ottawa, 2021)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science Indigenous Outreach Project Award (2021)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Kelly Xu (University of Ottawa, 2020)
  • Let's Talk Science Indigenous Outreach Project Award (University of Ottawa and Carleton University, 2020)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Elizabeth Walden (University of Ottawa, 2019)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Alanna Jane (University of Ottawa, 2019)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science David Colcleugh Leadership Award to Renee Nelson (University of Ottawa, 2019)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science Indigenous Outreach Project Award (University of Ottawa, 2019)
  • The University of Ottawa Let's Talk Science site is recognized by the Let's Talk Science National Office for 25 years of outreach (2018)
  • Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Jade Atkins (Carleton University, 2018)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science David Colcleugh Leadership Award to Renee Nelson (University of Ottawa, 2018)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science Indigenous Outreach Award (University of Ottawa, 2018)
  • Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Jennifer Neufeld (University of Ottawa, 2017)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Katherine Reilly (University of Ottawa, 2016)
  • Honourable mention for the Let' s Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Shira Schwartz (Carleton University, 2016)
  • The Carleton University Let's Talk Science site is recognized by the Let's Talk Science National Office for 15 years of outreach (2016)
  • Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Curtis McCloskey (University of Ottawa, 2015)
  • Let's Talk Science National Site Coordinator Award to Gabriel Potvin (University of Ottawa, 2014)
  • Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Sue McKee (University of Ottawa, 2014)
  • Let's Talk Science CIHR-Synapse Award to Jovian Tsang (University of Ottawa, 2014)
  • Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Gabriel Potvin (University of Ottawa, 2012)
  • Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Sara Rafferty (University of Ottawa, 2011)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Gabriel Potvin (University of Ottawa, 2011)
  • Let's Talk Science CIHR-Synapse Award to Alessandra Pasut (University of Ottawa, 2011)
  • Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Marc Chamberland (Carleton University, 2010)
  • Honourable mentions for the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Alexis Given and Natalie Andrews (University of Ottawa, 2010) and to Brandi Milko (Carleton University, 2010)
  • Let's Talk Science CIHR-Synapse Award to Natalie Andrews (University of Ottawa, 2010)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science CIHR-Synapse Award to Maryam Khan (University of Ottawa, 2010)
  • CIHR-Synapse Award to Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden in the Individual Researcher category (University of Ottawa, 2009)
  • Let's Talk Science CIHR-Synapse Award to Angela Alberga (University of Ottawa, 2009)
  • Let's Talk Science National Site Coordinator Award to Rob Smith (Carleton University, 2009)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Natalie Andrews (University of Ottawa, 2009)
  • Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Mathieu Frenette (University of Ottawa, 2008)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science National Volunteer Award to Marilyne Delorme (University of Ottawa, 2008)
  • Honourable mention for the Let's Talk Science National Site Coordinator Award to Rob Smith (Carleton University, 2008)
  • The Let's Talk Science National Office presents Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden the Outstanding Achievement Award for her commitment to science literacy and 15 years of leading the Let's Talk Science site at the University of Ottawa (2008)