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STEP U P, Canada!
A Science and Technology Engagement Program for all
Canadians
Newsletter Fall/Winter 2009
The STEP Up Canada Newsletter is issued periodically by the Canadian Association of Science
Centres to inform and underline the need for more national investment in informal science learning.
STIC Report Urges Policy Makers To Science Centres Answer the Call To
Nurture S+T Innovation Talent In Nurture Innovative Behaviors
Canada
Below are just three examples of how Canada’s
In State of the Nation 2008: Canada’s Science, science centres build innovation and innovative
Technology and Innovation System, the behaviors into their learning experiences.
Science, Technology and Innovation Council
(STIC) identified the need for Canada to “devote Design Challenge Shows Off
attention to developing the full potential of its
citizens.” The report emphasizes that if Canada The New Science Centre 2011(NSC) project at
aspires to be a truly innovative society, it must the TELUS World of Science – Calgary (TWS-
nurture and employ people who: C) attracts teens and the public to develop their
innovation skills. The NSC experience
o “have leading-edge research skills development team is creating experiences that
o have complex problem solving skills foster and nurture innovation. Typically, teens
o are committed to lifelong training and are one of the most difficult and yet the most
updating of skills important audiences to engage with science. In
o know how to put new technology to work one pilot project, the NSC team simply issued a
o exhibit leadership and entrepreneurship challenge to youth to consider new uses for
o bring products, processes, and services to discarded VHS tape. The teens came back with
markets, and unexpected and creative fashion applications. A
o can engage and cooperate at an small workshop grew into a successful design
international level.” challenge at a local school; and the result is a
powerful opportunity to attract teens, voluntarily,
These statements reinforce the need to to a challenge that improves and applies
augment the S+T talent system in Canada with innovation behaviors of collaboration, risk
a culture of innovation. Science centres and taking, and cross-disciplinary thinking.
similar organizations provide cultural inspiration
and learnings for Canadians to become leaders
in every one of these areas.
Informal science learning, through hands-on,
collaborative and multimedia experiences, is an
important and yet under-recognized foundation High school
of Canada’s Innovation system. CASC fashion shows
supports the conclusions of this report and may never be the
urges policymakers to consider the broad- same as the
reaching impact of a national investment in students respond
science engagement. to a recycled
material
Visit www.stic-csti.ca to download a copy of challenge.
the report.
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Canadian Association of Science Centres, Fall/Winter 2009
For more information contact: Tracy Ross, Executive Director, 613-566-4247 or ross@sciencenorth.ca
Oak Hammock Marsh combines watershed Festival Eurêka celebrates innovation in a
mapping with GPS and GIS programs. big way
There are two distinct programs using GPS at Annually, the Montreal Science Centre attracts
the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre, more than 40,000 people to Festival Eurêka, an
both of which provide young visitors and their open-air festival that celebrates local science
teachers with an early introduction to new and innovation. The partners that joined to
mapping technologies as a teaching tool. celebrate their innovations in 2009 include :
The GPS-GIS Community Mapping Project is o Vehicle prototypes developed by the
designed to work with communities located in student societies of the École polytechnique
the Red River watershed to identify and map and the École de technologie supérieure.
the significant natural, cultural, and/or historical
features that make their watershed unique. The
o Bicycle technologies (solar panels,
key component of this project was to develop an
networking, bicycle construction) associated
interactive watershed database using
with the Bixi public bicycle-lending program.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
technology from information collected using
GPS. The database is used to depict the o Food packaging and engineering
cultural landscape of each watershed and is innovations by L’institut de technologie des
available to the community and others through emballages et du génie alimentaire.
an interactive map server on the Internet.
http://arcntsrv.ducks.ca/public/WLP/viewer.htm Research shows that early interest in
S+T drives enrollment decisions.
The Geocaching 101 and the All about GIS
and GPS programs provide an introduction to Researchers made a rare study of longitudinal
geocaching as a fun and interactive way to data from 1988 to 2000 that tracked the career
learn the basic functions of GPS technology. expectations and math performance in
Geocaching is a worldwide activity where a standardized tests of students in grades 7 and 8
hider places a geocache, a container of some against their post-secondary educational
sort, pinpoints its location using GPS attainment. After controlling for demographics
technology and shares the location online for and parents’ background, the researchers
others to find. It has been compared as a established that an average mathematics
modern day treasure hunt and it is increasingly achiever with a science-related career
gaining in popularity worldwide. expectation has a higher probability of
earning a baccalaureate degree in the
physical sciences or engineering than a high
mathematics achiever with a nonscience
career expectation, 34% versus 19%. This
information demonstrates how important it is to
foster a basic interest in science in young
people if the goal is to eventually get them to
enrol in an undergraduate degree in science.
“Planning Early for Careers in Science” May
th
26 , 2006 Science (pp. 1143-4).
A Critical Conclusion
Science centres and other S+T awareness organizations are rising to the challenge of nurturing
innovation in Canada. And yet without a unifying strategy, many are unable to maximize the reach of
their exhibitions and programs. While other OECD countries move ahead with major new strategies in
science communication and engagement, Canada lacks an overarching investment program. For more
information, to download a copy of the proposal, or to voice your support for this proposal, visit
www.canadiansciencecentres.ca/proposal or contact the CASC at the coordinates below.
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Canadian Association of Science Centres, Fall/Winter 2009
For more information contact: Tracy Ross, Executive Director, 613-566-4247 or ross@sciencenorth.ca
