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‘Fantastic Physics Fun Show' and jazz-singing scientist among highlights at annual Science @ Guelph Experience
BY RACHELLE COOPER
Grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario begin arriving on campus this week for U of G's annual three-day science camp called the Science @ Guelph Experience (S@GE). Launched eight years ago, S@GE is a residential science and technology program sponsored by the Office of Open Learning, Conference Services and Student Housing Services.
Richard Louttet, a program development manager in Open Learning, says research has shown that experiences like S@GE are effective in turning students on to science or helping them develop their career goals.
“Students in Grade 7 and 8 are starting to think about what stream to select in high school,” he says, “and participating in a university program like S@GE helps to positively influence this decision at a young age.”
The camp has a 75-per-cent repeat rate from participating schools, which speaks volumes about its success, says Louttet. One of the returning schools this year is Eenchokay Birchstick School in the First Nation community of Pikangikum, a fly-in reserve 250 kilometres north of Dryden.
“Last year was the first opportunity many of these students had to travel outside their reserve,” he says. “The vice-principal thought it was a really valuable experience and wanted to make it happen again.”
The Pikangikum school is one of six aboriginal schools taking part in this year's camps, which run May 3 to June 9. Unlike the Pikangikum participants, who must travel 20 hours on a bus to Guelph after flying out of their reserve, most students from the 19 other participating schools travel no more than a couple of hours from their hometowns in southern Ontario.
Groups of up to 35 students participate in one of the seven three-day sessions. They get a full university experience staying in Johnston Hall with their teachers and parent chaperones, eating at Centre 6 and experiencing interactive learning using University computer and laboratory facilities.
Each year, S@GE invites guest “celebrities” to participate. Past celebrities have included CBC science reporter Bob McDonald and Discovery Chanel host Natasha Stillwell. This year, organizers decided to put the spotlight on scientists at U of G, says Louttet.
Physics professor Diane Nalini de Kerckhove, a well-known jazz singer/songwriter who's just about to release her third album, will speak at the closing ceremonies of S@GE. She says she's eager to let young people know that it's possible to have a career in science and maintain an interest in the arts.
“I'm looking forward to taking part in S@GE because I love speaking to young people and I believe that the sooner you can switch them on to science, the better. Women, especially, need to realize that it's an exciting and rewarding career option and that they can do just as well as men in math, physics and chemistry. Those areas are traditionally more male-dominated, so it's important to dispel biases as early as possible.”
Also participating in this year's camps are two members of the Department of Physics — undergraduate laboratory supervisor Tom Kehn and Prof. Ernie McFarland — who have been delivering the “Fantastic Physics Fun Show” to elementary schools for 20 years.
“Tom and I enjoy interacting with the young students and feel it's an important way to generate interest in science,” says McFarland. “Our show features lasers, liquid nitrogen — at -196 C, it sends a chill down everyone's spine — and a host of other scientific wonders.”
Last year's S@GE celebrity, Cara Ann Wehkamp, a PhD candidate in environmental biology who has been nationally honoured for her work in promoting the advancement of aboriginal post-secondary students and aboriginal culture, will also take part in this year's camp.
“Cara was definitely at the top of our list for one of this year's S@GE celebrities because of how successful her presentations were last year,” says Louttet. “Grade 7 and 8 students tend to be fascinated by space, so Cara's research on growing plants for a journey to the planet Mars is of particular interest to the students attending S@GE.”
The learning modules are designed along the themes of the Ontario science and technology curriculum to promote intellectual creativity and a sense of discovery. The modules are developed by U of G faculty and are typically taught by graduate students or fourth-year undergraduates doing research in the subject area. Participants can use research equipment or resources that provide a practical hands-on approach to learning.
This year's topics include “The Science of Photography,” “Geology: Frozen in Time” and “Veterinary Science: From Cows to Turtles.” In “The Geography of Natural Disasters” module, students will use U of G's physical geography lab to simulate tsunami waves and feel hurricane-force winds. They will also see sound waves in “The Physics of Music” module.
Louttet says S@GE is able to develop new learning modules that incorporate all aspects of science and engineering with support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Hewlett Packard. This year's program has also received donations from Ferrero Canada Ltd. and the Ice River Springs Water Company.
For more information about S@GE, visit www.open.uoguelph.ca/sage or call 767-5000.
