Program Overview
The SA program was established in 2006 by the NSERC/Cameco Prairie Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)—computer science professor Julita Vassileva—physics professor Chary Rangacharyulu, and chemistry professor Lee Wilson with funding support from the U of S, Cameco Corporation, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
The goal of the SA program is to provide teachers in Aboriginal communities with practical, hands-on support, both in the sciences classroom and through extra-curricular science activities. Science ambassadors are undergraduate or graduate students in science and engineering whose primary role is to help teachers in the classroom teach science in an interesting, engaging manner. Most of their work is aimed at children in grades four to nine, years that are critical in determining whether students develop a keen interest in science and a desire to pursue science education in later years. Our ambassadors are young, energetic and committed individuals who have proven their ability to make real connections with the kids.
What makes this program so unique is the duration of the support our students provide. Unlike many other science outreach programs, our science ambassadors spend extended period of time in the community, generally six consecutive full weeks, or four days every six weeks from September to May. Since its inception, the program has reached over 1200 students, in 12 schools, in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. With demand growing every year, we are confident this program will continue to grow well into the future.
Sparking the Joy of Science Discovery in Aboriginal Kids
