Page 5 - Eureka! Fall 2006

Teaching the teacher
Community outreach in the fi eld,” says Smith. “We have a lTS mentorship Wdonned mining gear and a his research project on the single ion Community outreach
chance to catch the interest of stu-
reaps awards
dents and get them to enjoy science or
see it in a new way.”
hen teacher Susan Dubois
In Ottawa, Carleton University
detection of barium atoms, famil-
helmet, stood chest-to-chest with
iarizing herself with the terms and
and the University of Ottawa have
44 people in an open elevator 2,133
A Biology laboratory tour at carleton
teamed up to deliver science semi-
concepts, and compiling information
meters underground, and walked the
nars to 70 schools and community
offered through let’s talk science (lts)
to bring back to her own classroom,
groups. The in-class activities and
resulted in a unique opportunity for
Dubois traveled to the Creighton Mine
two-kilometer long tunnel to visit the
near Sudbury, ON, to visit SNOLAB,
demonstrations refl ect the research
Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO-
hillcrest high school students michaela
interests of the volunteers drawn
from all disciplines, and range from
touring carleton labs and speaking to
took on a whole new perspective.
the universe is examined.
experts, the pair took advantage of a
In addition to the memorable trip
forensics to respiration to earth-
A participant in the Teacher’s
Science and Technology Outreach
beneath the Earth, Dubois observed
quake demonstrations. Ritchie and April Doreleyers. After LAB) underground laboratory, Science where the basic nature of matter in
mentorship opportunity with hannah
To reach communities outside mirrashed, msc/99, a PhD candidate Program — a pilot program offered by research in the above-ground labs, ex-
One of the most popular activities in the let’s Talk Science roster is Carleton’s annual butterfl y exhibit. in 2005,
volunteers guided 410 students from 12 schools through the exhibit, teaching students about aspects of a Ottawa, LTS is partnering with the and former coordinator of carleton’s the Ontario Ministry of Research and amined the equipment, and attended
butterfl y’s life and luring the insects with orange slices. From left to right, back row: Sara Brown, BScHon/04; Youth Science and Technology Out- lts program, Associate Professor my- Innovation to connect science teach- seminars with international research-
Atif Kukaswadia, BScHon/06; Becky lynes, BScHon/06; Shannon Mahony, BScHon/04; Abeer Sami and Hume reach Program to travel to rural and ron smith, Biology greenhouse man- ers with research in publicly funded ers on future uses for SNOLAB. She
douglas; front row: Ed Bruggink, Zahra Arzhangi, Hannah Mirrashed, MSc/99, and Katie Harding. northern towns including Timmins ager Ed Bruggink, and lab coordinator institutions — Dubois spent nine also visited the Science North and
let’s talk science and North Bay, ON. claudia Buttera. days in August learning about SNO- Dynamic Earth science centres, taking
Since bringing the program to cam-
photos all the while.
LAB from its director and Carleton
For two months, the students worked
The result is a series of presenta-
Physics Professor David Sinclair.
in carleton’s Biology research labs,
pus in 2001, the number of volunteers
“It was an eye-opening experience,”
Bringing discovery to the classroom has been increasing. This year, Smith testing different types of chemical says Dubois, who teaches a gifted tions that bring the research, facilities
and sense of discovery to her students.
pesticides and natural alternatives for
hopes to recruit 70 volunteers.
removing weeds to determine their
Grade 6 class at First Avenue Public
“I was a sponge for nine days, tak-
What attracts busy graduate
students to the program? Beyond effects on the environment. the result School in Ottawa. ing in as much as I could to bring
the obvious benefi ts of enhancing a of their research was presented at the After spending two days at Car- back for my students,” says Dubois. “I
here’s some jostling for position Smith is one of 50 students at student’s resume or scholarship ap- 2006 sanofi -Aventis Biotech challenge, leton with Dr. Sinclair, learning about want to help them understand what’s
Tas the high school science stu- Carleton who shares his passion for plication, the social aspects, or gain- Eastern Ontario division, and won a out there: the research, the excite-
dents line up for their chance to work science by volunteering with LTS. ing teaching experience, Smith says sixth place award. ment and the potential.”
with real DNA. Loading a pipette with Designed to improve science literacy rejuvenation is a powerful factor. mirrashed and Assistant Professor “The outreach program opens the
a DNA sample, seeing the electropho- through innovative educational pro- “When I lose focus on the fun and shelley hepworth also mentored the door to talking about what’s happen-
resis equipment separate the genetic grams, research and advocacy, Let’s discovery of what I’m doing, a trip to a “hot Potato” project that earned a merit ing in Canada,” she says.
material, and watching the stained Talk Science is a national charitable classroom really helps,” says Smith. “I award in the same competition for stu- Dubois, who participates in the Let’s
material become visible under ultra- organization. Its fl agship Partnership can look at my research in a new light dents Adam Biggs and Iaroslav Kourzen- Talk Science program, has already
violet light wasn’t possible for these Program, running at 23 campuses, because of the reaction of the kids — it kov from st. Patrick’s high school. invited Sinclair to speak to her class
students until the Let’s Talk Science provides graduate students and other makes my daily work invigorating.” “It’s rewarding to guide young stu- during their space unit, and has ar-
(LTS) Partnership Program came to researchers with opportunities to dents through the research and experi- ranged for a class tour of Carleton’s
the Ottawa secondary school. develop their teaching skills and be ! Fast fact... ments that they design themselves,” Department of Physics, complete with
“Our presentations are designed to scientifi c role models by volunteering says mirrashed. “I’m proud that lts can demonstrations.
be hands-on,” says Rob Smith, BSc/05, in elementary and secondary schools. the let’s talk science program is provide this experience for our volun- “I want students to feel comfortable
supported by the Faculty of science and
a Master’s student in Carleton’s De- “The program gives teachers a it welcomes alumni participants. If you teers and for the students.” with science and technology,” says Du-
partment of Biology and coordinator chance to bring new ideas and equip- want to get out of the offi ce, interact with Susan dubois with david Sinclair. “it was a real bois. And if that means leaving her com-
of the University’s LTS program. “We ment into the classroom, and stu- students and share your science expertise, honour for me to be at SnOlAB,” says dubois. “i fort zone to delve into one of the world’s
want students to experience science.” dents get the perspective of someone contact lts@carleton.ca. was fascinated by the amount of work done there.” deepest mines, she’s happy to do it.
A gem of a course
introduced to the history, mineralogy
how their synthetic equivalents are
and geology of natural gemstones in B.Sc., Ph.D., F.G.A. Award for two under- that make a mineral a gemstone and ! Fast fact...
graduate students pursuing research
efore diamonds became a girl’s surface by molten kimberlite magma the 10-part general interest course opportunities in gemology and to fund produced were examined, and each
Bbest friend, they were carbon rushing upward, about 52 million entitled Mineralogy and Geology of a sessional lecturer in gemology. participant researched and presented the research opportunity portion of the
harry Reid cox, B.sc., Ph.D., F.G.A. Award
molecules 200 kilometers or more years ago. They waited there until Gemstones, made possible through a This past summer Ingrid Kjars- on one type of gemstone. was realized over the summer when
beneath the current surface of the 1991 when geologists and prospec- gift from the estate of Harry Reid Cox. gaard, a consulting mineralogist for Carleton and Kjarsgaard will offer one undergraduate student worked on
Earth. With the right combination tors found North America’s fi rst major Dr. Cox, a Fellow of the Gemological industry and the Geological Survey the course again in the winter term carleton’s collection of gemstones with
of high pressure (about 5,520,000 commercial diamond deposit in the Association of Great Britain, worked of Canada, delivered the fi rst course for people of all backgrounds, and a curator Beth halfkenny and a second
kilopascal) and high temperature Lac de Gras area of the Northwest as a gemologist in Montreal. In 2004, in gemology, exploring the geological formal course in gemology will be of- student worked on the museum of Nature’s
(more than 1,100 degrees Celsius), the Territories. his estate established an endowment prerequisites and natural occurrences fered for credit in the 2007–2008 aca- mineral collection with its curator. these
carbon crystallized into diamonds. In This past spring, Earth Sciences stu- at Carleton’s Department of Earth Sci- involved in creating a precious stone. demic year. (Visit earthsci.carleton.ca two research scholarships will now be
awarded annually.
Canada, diamonds were carried to the dents and members of the public were ences to provide the Harry Reid Cox, The physical and chemical properties for more information.)
4 EUREKA!  Fall 2006Fall 2006 eur eka.carleton.ca 55
eur eka.carleton.ca
4 EUREKA! 