Government of Canada invests in science summer camps and outreach for young Canadians

OTTAWA, Ontario - Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced an investment in organizations across the country to inspire young Canadians to study science, technology, engineering and math. This year's recipients are developing programs in computer science, agriculture, marine studies, northern ecology, astronomy, mathematics and science journalism.

Minister of State Holder made the announcement at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), where Dr. Qusay H. Mahmoud is receiving funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council's (NSERC) PromoScience Program. The funding will be used to organize hands-on workshops so high school students and their teachers can learn how to create apps for mobile devices and be inspired to pursue studies in related fields. The UOIT PromoScience initiative is in collaboration with the Centre for Mobile Education and Research (CMER).

PromoScience offers financial support to a wide variety of organizations to develop programs that motivate youth to take an interest in science and engineering. Through the work of organizations, budding scientists and engineers learn about scientific methods, meet role models and develop valuable critical thinking skills.

• Link to event photo gallery

Quick facts

• The 2013 PromoScience competition resulted in $2.9 million in funding being awarded to 59 organizations across the country to support hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering and math for young Canadians and their science teachers. 
  
  
• Nearly one million young people each year learn more about science, technology, engineering and math through the organizations supported by PromoScience.
  
  
• This year's recipients include universities, interpretive science centres, urban farms, and wetland and conservation organizations.
  
  

Quotes

"Young Canadians are the next generation of talented researchers and innovators whose scientific discoveries we will rely on to improve our quality of life. Through our government's investments in science outreach and science summer camps, we are instilling a passion and curiosity in science, technology, engineering and math that will inspire young Canadians to pursue careers in these disciplines later on in life."

The Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)

"Canadian post-secondary graduates in science, technology, engineering and math are fueling jobs and growth in our economy. Our government's investment in UOIT's mobile technology workshops will encourage Oshawa's high school students to consider a promising future in these high demand fields."

Dr. Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament for Oshawa

"The PromoScience organizations we support stimulate curiosity and early interest in science and engineering in young Canadians. These organizations help everyone to better understand our increasingly technology-intensive world, and for many they open that all-important first door to pursuing promising careers in science and engineering."

Janet Walden, Chief Operating Officer, NSERC

"The experiences resulting from PromoScience-funded activities will provide young Canadians with building blocks to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)-related programs at the post-secondary education level. These opportunities will demonstrate the role innovation and technology has in their future careers and in Canada's global competitiveness."

Dr. Tim McTiernan, President and Vice-Chancellor, UOIT

Associated links

• The complete list of the 2013 PromoScience grant recipients
• More information on the PromoScience Program

About NSERC

NSERC is the primary funding agency supporting Canada's science and engineering research community. The agency supports almost 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding approximately 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by working with over 2,800 Canadian companies that are participating and investing in post-secondary research projects.

Media contacts:

Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT)
905.721.8668 ext. 6733
289.928.0268
melissa.levy@uoit.ca

Scott French
Director of Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
Office of the Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613.943.6177

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613.943.2502
media-relations@ic.gc.ca

Martin Leroux
Media and Public Affairs Officer
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
613.943.7618
media@nserc-crsng.gc.ca