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| Grade 7 students from Corwallis Jr. High build a miniature bridge at the All Science Challenge聽(L-R: Bara Gudmundsdottir, Kiera Flint, Leah Carbyn, Hannah Fleet) (Nick Pearce Photo) |
Ready. Set. Get your geek on.
That was the underlying theme on May 27 when about 100 kids from grades six to eight came to 鲍鱼tv for the All Science Challenge, an event organized by the local members of Let鈥檚 Talk Science (LTS).
鈥淟et鈥檚 Talk Science is a national group comprised of graduate student volunteers,鈥� says Jason Meisner, one of the coordinators for LTS at Dal. The program aims to motivate young students to learn and聽get them excited about science by making classroom educational visits, conducting research and hosting special events to advocate science.
Stephanie Collins, also a LTS coordinator,聽feels her work with the program is very important. . 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even realize that (scientific) research was an option when I was in school,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really important to promote that as a career.鈥�
Kids from Cornwallis and Gorsebrook Junior High Schools met in the University Club鈥檚 Great Hall and divided into cleverly-named teams of four or five, competing in several different events. Subject areas in the All Science Challenge include biology, biochemistry, chemistry, earth and environmental science, engineering, mathematics, psychology and physics.
This is the first year for the All Science Challenge and Mr. Meisner worried that a few of the questions might be too difficult. 鈥淏ut when I saw that some of the teams were getting nearly everything right, I realized that these kids have an incredible capacity if they鈥檙e motivated and excited about learning,鈥� he says.聽
One of the teams, the Scan Meisters, were asked how they prepared for the day鈥檚 events, Cornwallis student Ella Ridgewood answered 鈥渨e studied these pages of notes that were 30 or 40 pages each. It鈥檚 called Cool Science.鈥�
The Nerd Herd, also of Cornwallis Junior High, explained that they chose their team name a week before the event. 鈥淲e were trying to think of something scientific,鈥� said Marissa Cruz. 鈥淲e came up with Nerd Herd, but we didn鈥檛 think our teacher would appreciate it. We asked her and she said it would be cool.鈥� Ms. Cruz and her partners, Emma-Leigh Murphy and Kate Sutherland, each sported thick plastic frame glasses and t-shirts emblazoned with the team name 鈥� a demonstration of the excitement for science Mr. Meisner and Ms. Collins want to generate through LTS.聽
After a trivia session, teams re-grouped for the design challenge where they were tasked with building a miniature bridge out of some unusual objects like Post-it notes, plastic cups and duct tape.
Once completed, creations were carted up front for judging and points were awarded depending on how much weight the bridges could hold. Bonus marks went out for teamwork, the appearance of the bridge and being able to effectively explain the design.
In the end it was the "Au" Medalists (a.k.a. Gold Medalists) of Gorsebrook Junior High School who came out in front, claiming the title of All Science Challenge champions for 2010.
鈥淗opefully by introducing ourselves to the students we can become positive role-models, showing them you don鈥檛 have to be this crazy Albert Einstein-like character to be a scientist,鈥� says Mr. Meisner. 鈥淪cientists are real people. They鈥檙e men, they鈥檙e women, and they鈥檙e people of all ethnicities.鈥�
Ms. Collins and Mr. Meisner are always looking for volunteers to help with Let鈥檚 Talk Science. Any graduate or undergraduate students interested in helping out or learning more about Let鈥檚 Talk Science聽can visit or email lts@dal.ca.