Community

Let's DO Science Day engaging local high school students

High school students from across southern Alberta will participate in a variety of unique, fun and hands-on science activities at the 3rd Annual Let’s DO Science Day on Thursday, May 1 at the University of Lethbridge.

Students will engage in an array of activities involving state-of-the-art scientific problems and procedures that challenge their scientific knowledge and expose them to several different streams of science. The day serves as an opportunity to encourage students to think about potential careers and futures in post-secondary education.

Among other activities, students will have the chance to investigate the inner workings of the circulatory systems in biology, analyze the science of smells in chemistry, solve a variety of problems and puzzles in math and track their hand and eye movements in kinesiology. At the end of the day, students will be awarded prizes for their achievements and active participation before hearing a special presentation by University of Lethbridge professor and director of the Astronomical Instrumentation Group and co-founder of the Institute for Space Imaging Science, Dr. David Naylor.

Let’s DO Science Day is organized each year by science graduate students at the University of Lethbridge 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. Graduate student volunteers between several different science disciplines have designed the activities for the event. Overall, more than 20 graduate and undergraduate student volunteers will assist during the day to make it a fun and inspiring experience for everyone involved.

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. The Let’s Talk Science outreach program 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 Lethbridge Science Fair by offering tours of research laboratories and offering 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, national, 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, keep them engaged in learning and develop their potential to become 21st century citizens, innovators and stewards. For more information about Let’s Talk Science, please visit www.letstalkscience.ca.