First Nation’s Students get Hands-on Learning Opportunities at Science and Engineering

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 11:12 AM

Kids to get chance to be CSI sleuths, tour the night sky… and deliver a baby?

On Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22, 2008, students from First Nations in Manitoba and Ontario will be treated to more than 100 hands-on sessions at the Third Annual Peguis Science, Engineering and Technology Symposium at the University of Manitoba.

About 300 students in Grades 9 to 12 will travel to the University of Manitoba for opportunities to attend workshops on topics as diverse as tornadoes, microbiology, website design and even obstetrics. The sessions will be presented by lecturers and professors from many departments within the Faculties of Science, Agricultural and Food Sciences, Engineering, Nursing and Medicine, as well as the Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources. Sessions will also be presented by Manitoba Hydro and Red River College.“This is a fantastic learning experience for high school students,” says Dr. Tom Berry, mathematics, an organizer of the event. “This program allows young people to see what it’s like to be in university, while still in high school.”

Another aspect of the symposium is to have students meet Aboriginal role models to help them understand the importance of education and determination. Keynote speakers for the event are two notable members of the National Aboriginal Role Model Program: Candice Lys and Daniel McKennitt. Lys is from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and is working on her Masters of Arts in Health Promotion at Dalhousie University. Lys has traveled around the globe and has been an avid volunteer for youth and health promotion programs such as the Youth Challenge International and Peer Health Education programs. McKennitt is an Anishnabe (Ojibway) medical student from Sandy Bay First Nation, Manitoba. He is currently attending the University of Alberta Medical School, studying to become a physician. McKennitt has received numerous awards, including the Alberta Aboriginal Health Careers Bursary for leaders in the area of Aboriginal health. He has worked for many organizations including as a youth advisor for the Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centre with the Department of Heritage. Recently, he has been conducting Aboriginal health research with the University of Alberta.

The students will arrive at the University of Manitoba this afternoon to get settled in and register. Tomorrow at 9:00 am, there will be opening ceremonies in University Centre and then the students will head off to the various science and tech sessions. The Honourable Dianne McGifford, Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy and Mr. Tom Nevakshonoff, MLA Interlake, will speak at the opening ceremony, which will also feature the Young Bear Singers Drum Group from Peguis First Nation.

Titles of some workshops include: “Feats and Failures of Engineering”; “Tornadoes: Hollywood Versus the Real Thing”; and “How to Deliver a Baby.”

For more information, contact Dr. Tom Berry at: 204-474-8345

For more information, contact:
Chris Rutkowski
Media Relations Coordinator
Public Affairs
rutkows@ms.umanitoba.ca
Phone: (204) 474-9514
Fax: (204) 474-7631