High school students from across southern Alberta will participate in a variety of science activities at the University of Lethbridge during Let’s DO Science Day on Thursday, April 30. Let’s DO Science Day will be filled with numerous fun, hands-on science activities to expose students to several different streams of science and encourage them to think about potential careers and futures in post-secondary education.
By tackling state-of-the-art scientific problems and procedures, students’ scientific knowledge will be challenged. Among other activities, students will have the chance to investigate the anti-oxidant content of green tea and other foods in chemistry, learn how to use light to study objects in outer space, dissect sheep brains in neuroscience and design helmets to protect the brain from collisions in kinesiology.
At the end of the day, students will be awarded prizes for their achievements and active participation before hearing a special presentation from Dr. Bryan E. Kolb, professor of Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge, former President of the Canadian Society for Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science and former President of the Experimental Division of the Canadian Psychological Association. He is currently a member of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research’s program in Child and Brain Development.
Let’s DO Science Day is organized each year by U of L science graduate and undergraduate students who volunteer for the national Let’s Talk Science Outreach program. It is their goal to share their passion for science with high school students, to increase the public accessibility of science and to inspire students to pursue careers in science. Activities for the event have been designed by graduate students and faculty volunteers from several science disciplines. Overall, more than 20 graduate and undergraduate student volunteers, along with faculty members, will assist during the day to make it a fun and inspiring experience for everyone involved.
When: Thursday, April 30, 2015 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: University of Lethbridge
4401 University Drive
Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4
(Note: At the start of the morning and afternoon sessions, students will gather in PE275 in the 1st Choice Savings Centre. Throughout the rest of the day, small groups of students will be in teaching labs and classrooms scattered around campus and the Let’s Talk Science team can bring interested media to these locations)
Contact:
Luc Roberts (luc.roberts@uleth.ca; cell phone: 403.929.0780), Graduate Student Coordinator and Let’s Do Science Day Organizer at the U of L.
Dr. Ute Kothe (ute.kothe@uleth.ca; 403.332.5273, cell phone: 403.393.9226), Let’s Talk Science Faculty Supervisor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.
Backgrounder:
ABOUT LET’S TALK SCIENCE:
The Let’s Talk Science Outreach program at the University of Lethbridge targets local high schools and is managed by graduate student volunteers in the sciences. This program enhances the science experience of high school students and provides graduate students with the opportunity to grow their skills in science communication, thereby strengthening the connection between the University and local schools. In the last few years, the Let’s Talk Science Outreach program at the University of Lethbridge has conducted numerous school visits to high school classes in Lethbridge and southern Alberta, has offered teachers’ workshops at the annual teachers’ convention, and has added to the scientific program at the local science fair by offering tours of research laboratories and numerous hands-on activities for participants.
The Let’s Talk Science Outreach program at the University of Lethbridge is supported by the national Let’s Talk Science organization. Let’s Talk Science is an award-winning, non-profit, science outreach organization. Let’s Talk Science creates and delivers science learning programs and services that turn children and youth on to science and keep them engaged in learning to develop their potential to become 21st century citizens, innovators and stewards. For more information about Let’s Talk Science, please visit www.letstalkscience.ca or outreach.letstalkscience.ca/uleth.
