Comments on: Isn’t Science Just for Eggheads? The Importance of Science Outreach http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2009/11/09/science-outreach/ Science in Canada: Issues affecting trainees Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:01:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Susan http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2009/11/09/science-outreach/comment-page-1/#comment-4347 Susan Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:46:24 +0000 http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/?p=50#comment-4347 Hi Beth. Thank you so much for this list of science outreach programs in Canada! I've been searching the net for opportunities to pursue my passion for making science "accessible" to the public, and this list has given me some great ideas! Hi Beth. Thank you so much for this list of science outreach programs in Canada! I’ve been searching the net for opportunities to pursue my passion for making science “accessible” to the public, and this list has given me some great ideas!

]]> By: Ian http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2009/11/09/science-outreach/comment-page-1/#comment-211 Ian Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:02:06 +0000 http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/?p=50#comment-211 I worked with the Actua affiliate at the University of Alberta last summer - DiscoverE. In May-June we did ~1 hour presentations in classrooms (usually elementary, but we had demos for older grades too) and covered the region from just South of Edmonton to Tuktoyaktuk in NWT. I presented in Edmonton, Ft. McMurray, and Slave Lake. Then in July-Aug we ran student-programmed summer camps in most of those same communities. I ran many camps in Edmonton and a week in Yellowknife and a Metis reserve called Kikino. We aimed to keep all our costs as low as possible and many camps for First Nations were heavily sponsored (some to the point where they paid students to attend). Actua and DiscoverE have won several awards for their presentations and outreach. I worked with the Actua affiliate at the University of Alberta last summer – DiscoverE. In May-June we did ~1 hour presentations in classrooms (usually elementary, but we had demos for older grades too) and covered the region from just South of Edmonton to Tuktoyaktuk in NWT. I presented in Edmonton, Ft. McMurray, and Slave Lake. Then in July-Aug we ran student-programmed summer camps in most of those same communities. I ran many camps in Edmonton and a week in Yellowknife and a Metis reserve called Kikino. We aimed to keep all our costs as low as possible and many camps for First Nations were heavily sponsored (some to the point where they paid students to attend). Actua and DiscoverE have won several awards for their presentations and outreach.

]]> By: Beth http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2009/11/09/science-outreach/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Beth Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:35:24 +0000 http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/?p=50#comment-49 Thanks, SubC, I've added that to the list. And your mention of science fairs alerted me to the fact that I'd completely overlooked mentioning them - so I've added the Canada Wide Science Fair as well. I agree that a lot of discourse takes place on public forum and blog comment sections (not to mention Facebook walls!) and we really should be countering the pseudoscience we see there. I have to admit that I often get quite discouraged by all the misinformation I see in places like that - perhaps if we all made an effort to post in places like that, it would go along way! Thanks, SubC, I’ve added that to the list. And your mention of science fairs alerted me to the fact that I’d completely overlooked mentioning them – so I’ve added the Canada Wide Science Fair as well.

I agree that a lot of discourse takes place on public forum and blog comment sections (not to mention Facebook walls!) and we really should be countering the pseudoscience we see there. I have to admit that I often get quite discouraged by all the misinformation I see in places like that – perhaps if we all made an effort to post in places like that, it would go along way!

]]> By: SubC http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2009/11/09/science-outreach/comment-page-1/#comment-47 SubC Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:20:01 +0000 http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/?p=50#comment-47 A link to the high school science program with a biotechnology focus that I've been involved with as an adjudicator: http://sanofibiotalentchallenge.ca/ A link to the high school science program with a biotechnology focus that I’ve been involved with as an adjudicator: http://sanofibiotalentchallenge.ca/

]]> By: SubC http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/2009/11/09/science-outreach/comment-page-1/#comment-46 SubC Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:18:09 +0000 http://scienceadvocacy.org/Blog/?p=50#comment-46 Great post ! As a postdoctoral researcher, I have always tried to "infect" others with the scince "bug". Mentoring undergraduate students and participating in high school science projects (either as a mentor or judge) is always a good idea. I would also encourage ppl to post their scientifically valid opinions on puiblic forums such as those on Globeandmail, Macleans or CBC as well as in various blogs. My personal feeling is that a lot of future discourse will be taking on these places and it is our duty to promote science and counter pseudo-science on whatever public forums are availble. Great post ! As a postdoctoral researcher, I have always tried to “infect” others with the scince “bug”. Mentoring undergraduate students and participating in high school science projects (either as a mentor or judge) is always a good idea. I would also encourage ppl to post their scientifically valid opinions on puiblic forums such as those on Globeandmail, Macleans or CBC as well as in various blogs. My personal feeling is that a lot of future discourse will be taking on these places and it is our duty to promote science and counter pseudo-science on whatever public forums are availble.

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