Annual Volunteer Appreciation Night

It was another amazing year of Science Outreach from the University of Guelph, and we couldn't have done it without our amazing volunteers. Over 130 volunteers helped us run over 200 activities this year, which represents a 50% increase over last year's 89 active volunteers and 124 activities! Our volunteers donated over 2000 hours of their own time to work with 6600 youth this year, and we couldn't be prouder!

Our annual year end volunteer appreciation night was held Thursday, June 12th in the Grad Lounge.

We'd like to congratulate our top 5 volunteers this year:

1. Alex Swirski

2. Keith Poore

3. Heather Gibling

4. Kate Williams

5. Kayla Skubowius

As our top volunteer, Alex was awarded the Christopher Zweerman Volunteer of the Year Award. This award is named in honour of Christopher Zweerman, who won the first ever Let’s Talk Science at the University of Guelph Volunteer of the Year Award. Chris became a volunteer for Let’s Talk Science during its first year at the University of Guelph. His enthusiasm, passion and genuine cheer embodied everything a Let’s Talk Science volunteer should be. After completing his Masters at Guelph, he headed to Australia for Medical School. Tragically, Chris was killed in a motorbike accident in 2010. Each year, with his spirit of volunteerism in mind, we award this certificate to our top volunteer.

While these 5 volunteers collectively donated over 260 hours of their time, they could not have done it along. Some of you trained them during their first activity, some of you may have gone with them on YOUR first activity. Some of you accompanied them on local or even rural trips! Either way, Let's Talk Science at the University of Guelph is a TEAM effort, so

thank you

for all you do!

Let's Talk Science at Guelph Activities Nominees and Finalists for National Awards

Congratulations to some of our volunteers who were nominated for national Let's Talk Science Awards!

Read the official National Office announcement and story here

The National Let's Talk Science Volunteer of the Year Award

This award recognizes volunteers that have shown outstanding innovation, communication and a commitment to science outreach and education, whether at a Let’s Talk Science Outreach site or by volunteering directly with the Let’s Talk Science national office.

Nominee: Alexandra Swirski

Nominee: Kate Williams

Nominee: Kayla Skubowius

You can read more about Alex and Kate in our other blog post: 

http://ltsatuog.blogspot.ca/2014/04/happy-national-volunteer-week.html

A feature post about Kayla will be coming soon!

The Canadian Institute of Health Research-Synapse Award
The annual CIHR-Synapse Award recognizes an outstanding and innovative health research-related activity done by a Let's Talk Science volunteer(s). The activity for which they are nominated must relate to health research, but the volunteers do not have to be registered in a health-related program at their post-secondary institution. They must have also been trained using Science with Impact^®.

Finalist: Kaitlyn Roke & Maude Perreault 

were finalists for the 2014 CIHR-Synapse Award for their Let's Talk Nutrition activity.

You can read more about their nomination and activity in the @Guelph story.

http://atguelph.uoguelph.ca/2014/05/nutrition-workshop-aimed-at-making-healthy-choices/

Finalist: Keith Poore 

was also a finalist for this award for his statistics based disease propagation activity, 

which will be appearing in our catalogue of available activities in Fall 2014.

Kaitlyn, Maude and Keith were beat out by Jovian Tsang, a volunteer from the Let's Talk Science at the University of Ottawa site. His activity was based on designing a vaccine to save the world from the spread of the zombie-virus.

Congratulations everyone!

And thanks for all your hard work!

Happy National Volunteer Week!

It's National Volunteer Week, and I'd like to take a moment and recognize a few of our outstanding volunteers!!!

These volunteers are so stellar, we nominated each of them for a National Let's Talk Science award!

Kate Bishop Williams  (Nominated: National Volunteer of the Year Award)

Kate is definitely one of our most dedicated, flexible and all-round wonderful volunteers! If you're looking for an experienced, enthusiastic volunteer to run an activity in your classroom, Kate's your girl! She brings her wealth of experience working with kids and her enthusiasm for teaching and scientific communication to every activity she runs -- and it shows! Educators have nothing but good things to say after Kate visits their classroom, and the kids can't stop asking when she'll be back! Thanks KATE!! :)

Q . What are you studying and what have you studied in the past?
A. I am currently finishing my MSc in Epidemiology. I completed an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences. In September I will begin my PhD in Epidemiology!

Q . What has been your favourite part of volunteering (or what is the best activity that you've done so far)?
A. I love the opportunity to work with kids! I used to teach swimming lessons and I gave that up when I started grad school. Now I have the opportunity to work with children again, teach something that I love and hopefully inspire a few bright young minds to consider a career in science. What could be more fun!?

Q. Why did you become a Let's Talk Science volunteer?

A. I became a let's Talk Science volunteer for a number of reasons! The main reasons were to work with kids, teach science and meet other graduate students at my university. The somewhat more selfish reasons that are still valid are to build my CV, learn how to communicate science and my research to a different group and build teaching experience. But in the end, I have stayed a volunteer because I LOVE working with LTS at the University of Guelph!

Q. What are your goals for the future?

A. My goals for the future are to start my PhD in September and complete it in 4 years or less. I would like to continue to volunteer with LTS, continue to work as a teaching assistant and maybe even as a sessional instructor! In the end, I would like to be a professor of epidemiology or of climate change and health.


Alex Swirski  (Nominated: National Volunteer of the Year Award)
Alex was a brand new addition to our Let's Talk Science Outreach program in September, but what a great addition to our team! Alex brings enthusiasm to every activity, and she has a great rapport with kids of all ages! Despite only joining the team in September, she quickly became one of our most active volunteers, heading to both local AND rural schools to run hands-on/minds-on activities with kids! Thanks ALEX! :D

Q . What are you studying and what have you studied in the past?
A. My undergraduate degree was in microbiology. I am currently studying epidemiology, looking at how season influences water contamination with Giardia spp. and the impact of season on the incidence of human cases of giardiasis.

Q . What has been your favourite part of volunteering (or what is the best activity that you've done so far)?
A. I love getting kids excited about science! My favourite part of volunteering is when we do the wrap up at the end of the activity and the kids tell you about their favourite part and what part they are going to tell their parents about when they go home. I love seeing the excitement that comes from learning something cool and new.

Q. Why did you become a Let's Talk Science volunteer?

A. My friend suggested that I try it out and I am very glad I did!

Q. What are your goals for the future?

A. I am still trying to figure that out for myself! However, I would love to work for the World Health Organization and help with disease eradication and                                                                                       vaccination programmes.


Keith Poore  (Nominated: CIHR-Synapse Award)
Keith was another new addition to our team in September. He quickly distinguished himself as a dependable volunteer who was willing to help out wherever we needed help most. Within a couple months, he was already offering to design a brand new activity (a disease propagation activity for grades 6+ that you'll see featured on our blog over the summer). For his work in developing this Health-based activity, we nominated him for the CIHR-Synapse Award. Thanks KEITH!

Q . What are you studying and what have you studied in the past?
A. I am currently in my second year of my MSc. in Biophysics. I did my BSc. in Medical Physics at Ryerson University.

Q . What has been your favourite part of volunteering (or what is the best activity that you've done so far)?
A. I like to help others, whether it be learning something new and exciting or just lending a helping hand. When volunteering through Let's Talk Science, I really enjoy the eureka moments students have when they understand a new concept.

Q. Why did you become a Let's Talk Science volunteer?

A. I heard really great things about LTS, from friends who had volunteered. I also like to teach science (at any level), so it seemed like a great opportunity.

Q. What are your goals for the future?

A. I am currently running for Guelph City Council. I also want to do a PhD in either Biophysics, Biomathematics, or Applied Mathematics.

Volunteer Appreciation Night @ the Grad Lounge

Hi all our wonderful LTS volunteers!

You are cordially invited to join Nancy & I plus some of your fellow volunteers 

at the Grad Lounge 

at 6pm 

on Thursday, November 28th.

We've reserved the big table at the back and will be providing some appetizers as well as raffling off a few prizes before the Grad Lounge Trivia fun begins at 7 pm.

Friends of LTS are absolutely welcome too! But we can't promise you a prize ;-)

Post Party Updates -- 
Out LTS trivia team made an excellent showing AGAIN this semester, placing 3rd and 2nd in the two trivia rounds.
Kate B & Keith P were our top two volunteers this semester! They each received a $10 gift card.

Thanks everyone!
We'll definitely do it again next semester!

Featured Volunteer: Sana Khan!

Sana Khan is one of our most dedicated volunteers, and this month, we are featuring her in both our educator newsletter and on our blog site!

Sana routinely brings an enthusiasm and passion to LTS activities that impresses both kids and educators (and us!) alike! She is always looking for ways to help us plan and deliver new programs and activities and is always willing to lend a hand with our special events -- even if that means driving through a torrential rain storm from Mississauga to Fergus to help run an all-day LTS booth at the Fergus Fall Fair! Sana was the 2013 LTS at Guelph All Science Challenge Quizmaster, delivering questions to our keen ASC participants.

Last year, we nominated Sana and another volunteer, Justine, for the Let's Talk Science CIHR-Synapse Award, which recognizes an outstanding, innovative, health research-related activity done by a Let's Talk Science Outreach volunteer or pair of volunteers. Sana & Justine's Non-smoking Awareness activity for the Guelph Public Library was selected as one of the top three finalists, and ultimately as first-runner up by the National selection committee.

Q. What are you studying and what have you studied in the past?

A.  I completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster University in Bio-Physiology. I am currently in the 2nd (and last) year of the Masters of Public Health program at University of Guelph.

Q. What has been your favourite part of volunteering (or what is the best activity that you've done so far)?

A. Throughout my volunteer work with Let's Talk Science, I have met a lot of enthusiastic and curious kids. I love watching kids light-up and be fascinated by the activities we conduct. And there is no greater joy than watching these children thoroughly enjoy the activities you have prepared and being told the kids are already look forward to your next visit! I have really enjoyed conducting the Chemistry Magic Show as most of the chemistry tricks completely surprise the kids and they are left with a passion to learn more about science.

Q. Why did you become a Let's Talk Science volunteer?

A. I absolutely love working with kids in any capacity and I am extremely passionate about Science. So when I heard about the opportunity to get involved with Let's Talk Science, I couldn't imagine a better fit for myself. I have been a volunteer with Let's Talk Science for more than a year now, and I have genuinely enjoyed every aspect of being a part of this group.  

Q. What are your goals for the future?

A. I have recently applied to Medical School and am interesting in the field of General Surgery.

Good luck Sana! We're rooting for you!!!

Please spread the word! LTS is running training sessions for new volunteers!

Are you a 3rd or 4th year undergrad, vet or graduate student, staff or faculty? Are you looking for a way to get involved in the community, get to know other grad students in other departments, and/or to share your passion for your field with youth? If you are, Let's Talk Science is looking for you!

Let's Talk Science (www.letstalkscience.ca) is a national not-for-profit organization that pairs university student volunteers with educators across Canada. We are looking for senior undergraduate, graduate and vet student volunteers who can spend 10 hours each year (only 5 hours/semester) volunteering with youth in Guelph and the surrounding area. Though our volunteers are predominantly science, engineering, or math graduate students, all disciplines are welcome! (This means YOU social science students!) 

There are many diverse opportunities for involvement, and our volunteers have many opportunities to develop their communication, presentation and teaching skills (always a bonus for adding to your CV!) in both local and rural/remote communities. Most volunteers engage students with hands-on science activities from our pre-made "kits", but you can also develop and design your own modules around your area of study or special interest, helping to add to our catalog of available activities.

Examples of recent activities include a visit to a Grade 2 class for a Plants & Pollinators game, a competition to build chain-reaction Rube Goldberg machines in a Grade 7 class, monthly library visits for kids' science programs like our Crime Scene Investigator mystery and Chemistry Magic Show, giving a talk at a Philosophy symposium or presenting your research in a Poster Presentation at Science Rendezvous.

 To learn more, come out to one of our 20 minute info sessions in the Science Complex Room 1511: 

Thursday, September 12th, 2013 at 5 pm

Thursday, September 19th, 2013 at 5 pm

 If you're already convinced,  and want to volunteer, you'll first have to attend an orientation and training session. Please RSVP to uguelph@letstalkscience.ca for one of the following training sessions in the Science Complex Room 1511:

Thursday, September 12th, 2013 from 5:30-7:30 pm

Thursday, September 19th, 2013 from 5:30-7:30 pm

Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
in the Science Complex Room 1511

If you have any questions or concerns, please email the University of Guelph Let's Talk Science coordinators, Nancy and Ann at uguelph@letstalkscience.ca. To learn more about who we are and what we do at the University of Guelph, please check out our website at www.letstalkscience.ca/uguelph.

Cheers!

Ann & Nancy

Our Fantastic Volunteers!

We've totaled the numbers and tallied the points, and concluded it was yet another fantastic year here at Let's Talk Science at the University of Guelph.

From July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013, our volunteers conducted over 130 activities and reached over 4100 youth. This amounts to over 1300 hours of volunteer time from our 96 active volunteers!

We'd like to tip our hats to all of our active volunteers, especially our top five volunteers, who volunteered the most number of hours to help reach out to youth in our communities.

1. Linda Jewell - 46 hours

2. Roman Kondra - 39.5 hours including 4 rural activities

3. Marshall Lindner - 36.5 hours including an amazing 8 rural activities!

4. Nick Jeffery - 35 hours

5. Larry Chen - 34.5 hours including 2 rural activities (and Larry only started volunteering in Jan!)

Thanks so much for everyone's help! There is absolutely no way we could make such a difference without y'all!

Cheers to a fantastic year!
And cheers to an even better one coming up!

Spring Sprouts in a Local Classroom!

2 of our wonderful volunteers (Katie H. and Francesca H.) recently visited a Grade 1 classroom at Sacred Heart Catholic School here in Guelph to run our PLANTS activity. Since the weather is so beautiful, the girls opted to add an extra hands-on project for the kids -- grow bean plants in cotton balls so they could study the root structure!

Many thanks to the teacher for passing along this picture last week!

WAY TO GROW! ahem... I mean WAY TO GO!

Congratulations to the Let's Talk Science National Award Finalists!

The annual Let's Talk Science CIHR-Synapse Award recognizes an outstanding, innovative, health research-related activity done by a Let's Talk Science Outreach volunteer or pair of volunteers.

This year, we nominated Sana Khan and Justine Hutchinson for their efforts putting together an activity for Non-Smoking month at the Guelph Public Library. The Let's Talk Science head office agreed that they did an amazing job, and a jury of LTS employees and volunteers included Justine and Sana in the top three finalists for the award.

Congratulations girls

Read more about the 3 finalists and about Sana and Justine's activity here:
http://www.letstalkscience.ca/volunteers/showcase-and-awards/cihr-award-showcase.html

Featured volunteer and educator AND welcome to the new school year!!

Happy September everyone!! The leaves are beginning to change.. our super-hot summer is (maybe?) starting to fade... and this week, students from kindergarten through university are headed back to school! That means that we are in full-swing planning mode, preparing for another exciting and fun year of outreach activities!

The beginning of a new semester means highlighting another one of our fantastic volunteers! Beginning this semester, we will also be featuring some of our dedicated educator partners, to recognize their everyday efforts to make science fun for their students!

Featured Volunteer Pair - Xin and Ramya

Xin and Ramya began volunteering in the Fall of 2011. They have received rave reviews from the teachers and students who they have worked with thanks to their enthusiasm and creativity!

Q. What are you studying and what have you studied in the past?

Xin:  I went to University of Waterloo to complete my BSc. in Biochemistry/Biotechnology specialization and now I am doing my master study in Environment Biology in University of Guelph.

Ramya: I do have my undergraduate degree in Biotechnology (Engineering)from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), India and presently pursuing masters in Bioinformatics at University of Guelph.

Q. What has been your favourite part of volunteering (or what is the best activity that you've done so far)?

Xin: The best part of this experience is to see the smiles from every single kids, and get them to like science even when they are young. Learning science can be so enjoyable if the fun ideas are introduced to all those kids, which is why I am so thankful that they have this program to cover kids from age 6-17. Teaching the kids to appreciate science and not just some boring formula in chemistry, or nasty animals that scare them. 

I only had chance to volunteer with one activity, which is budding science that talked about how insects and birds adapt to their habitats. This activity was great because it allows the kids to have hands on experience to "become a bird" when feeding and to build their own insects.

Ramya: The excitement and happiness in each young scientist(kid) after there hands on activity.

Featured Volunteer - Jan Edward

Jan is an amazingly passionate and dedicated volunteer who began working with Let's Talk Science at the start of the 2010-2011 school year! He has visited schools and community groups within Guelph and in rural areas like Dublin, and he performed an amazing 10 activities last year! 

Q. What are you studying and what have you studied in the past?

A.I did my undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology in Guelph and I loved it so much that I am still here pursuing my MSc degree studying stress neuroendocrinology.

Q. Why did you become a Let's Talk Science volunteer?

A. Science has always been a passion of mine. Science is practically everywhere in today's world. It is transforming our world in a rapid pace. However, Science is under appreciated. I volunteered for Let's Talk Science to pass on my passion to younger students and at the very least, for the students to gain an appreciation for Science. I believe that  being able to understand the importance of science in our everyday lives is not only an advantage but a necessity. More importantly, I want everyone to know that Science is fun!

Q. What has been your favourite part of volunteering (or what is the best activity that you've done so far)?

A. One of my most memorable Let's Talk Science experience is visiting schools in rural areas. The students are very excited to have us visit their school as they have very few visitors in the school year. This makes the long trip very rewarding. As rural students do not have the same level of access to science programming as urban students, I feel that these trips makes a huge impact as far as science outreach goes.

Past Featured Volunteers:

• Derek
• Kaity

Featured Volunteer - Kaity

Kaity is a star volunteer who began volunteering with Let's Talk Science at the start of the 2010-2011 school year! She has participated in a huge number of different activities, including helping out with lots of activities at a local elementary school, participating in College Royal, and, most recently, performing hands-on activities with over 200 kids on a ferry in Owen Sound!

Q. What are you studying and what have you studied in the past?

A. I attended UoG for my undergrad with a major in Human Kinetics and a minor in Psychology. I am currently doing my coursework Masters in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Science. Our lab studies different aspects of nutrigenomics. I have focused on relating specific genes to enzyme activity levels and associating these traits with inflammation and fatty acid synthesis. The long-term goal for parts of nutrigenomics would be to create personalized dietary plans for individuals, according to their genetic makeup.

Q. Why did you become a Let's Talk Science volunteer?

A. I love working with children and helping to create a love for science and a desire to to learn. Working with children is a very rewarding experience, I learn with them and I hope that they can learn something from me! In the future I would like to teach and each opportunity leaves me with new information about how I can improve and create a better presentation in the future.

Q. What has been your favourite part of volunteering (or what is the best activity that you've done so far)?

A. My favourite part about volunteering is being able to watch the kids use their imagination and creativity during hands on activities. Their ideas always amaze me and I am always very excited to see the end result :) I am looking forward to the opportunity to participate in more fun activities with Let’s Talk Science!

Featured Volunteer - Derek

Derek is a fantastic Let's Talk Science volunteer who has been active at the Guelph site since 2009. This year he has worked extensively with the Guelph Home-School Science Co-op and wowed them with demonstrations about chemistry, matter, and structures!

 

Q. What are you studying now and what have you studied in the past? 

A. I did my undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College, majoring in engineering and biology. I'm currently working on my Ph.D. in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science. My advisor is Dr. Julang Li and my project looks at the initiation of meiosis in soon-to-be germ cells. We're hoping to use that knowledge to improve artificial systems for reproductive technologies, such as in animal production. 

 

Q. Why did you become a Let's Talk Science volunteer?

A.  I've always enjoyed teaching and working with elementary-aged kids. I remember how much fun science was back in grade-school (not that it's not as fun now) and this seemed like a really great way to inspire kids to get fascinated about something that fascinates me. 

 

Q. What has been your favourite part of volunteering (or what is the best activity that you've done so far)?

A. Probably my favourite thing is seeing how excited everyone is when they see me coming back. That means I must be doing something right. And being able to do experiments that I (mostly) know are going to work out the way I'm expecting!