Bermuda high school students explore science and technology

July 26, 2016

Bermuda High School students designed their own sailboats during their visit to UOIT.

It’s not often that high school students have a chance to visit a university in another country, get a taste of post-secondary life and explore programs they are interested in pursuing. But 16 students from Bermuda High School (BHS) did all of this and more during their recent visit to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

The trip was designed to inspire curiosity and nurture a passion for science and technology among upper-year BHS students. BHS is a Pembroke, Bermuda-based private, mostly-girls’ school with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) education.

“Bermuda High School is known for preparing its students to be 21-century leaders and innovators,” said Joe Stokes, Associate Registrar, Enrolment Services. “The University of Ontario Institute of Technology was pleased to invite BHS students to campus and provide them with valuable experiences to enrich their studies.”

Through various activities, the visiting students had a chance to explore in depth some of the university’s unique STEAM-based programs and get a sense of what university life is like.

One of their stops was the Crime Scene House, where they ran through different crime scenarios, bagged evidence, analyzed blood spatter and dusted for fingerprints, while learning how to collaborate as a team and share ideas and insights.

Other activities included:

building a robot
designing a sail boat
geocaching
going on a biodiversity tour of the Toronto Zoo
visiting the Ontario Science Centre

“Having the opportunity to be at a university and to participate in activities like these was eye-opening,” said BHS student Camrynn Swan. “It was both interesting and beneficial to see what university is like, and to be introduced to new fields and programs I hadn’t considered before.”

“This experience gave me a different grasp of what university entails,” added Lillian Griffiths, a BHS student who is considering UOIT for her post-secondary studies. “I was exposed to classes I’ve never taken before. Visiting the campus made it easier to actually picture myself here, and made the whole process of applying to university much less overwhelming. The activities also showed me how many job possibilities are out there. The hands-on interaction gave me a different view on various subjects.”

“The opportunities and access provided by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology were above and beyond my expectations,” said Melissa Brough, BHS Teacher and Trip Supervisor. “This experience opened the eyes of our students and broadened their horizons, allowing them to realize the significance of different subjects. It also demonstrated that it’s possible to turn your passion into a career.”