Three programs will help inspire youth and Aboriginal people to consider careers in science
July 8, 2015 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Brad Trost, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon–Humboldt, accompanied by the Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, and on behalf of the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today highlighted the funding that the University of Saskatchewan received through the PromoScience Program. The support will help provide elementary school- and high school-aged Canadians with better opportunities to gain skills for careers in science-based fields later in life.
Canada currently has the most educated workforce among developed OECD countries; however, less than half of Canadians' first university or college degrees are in science based fields. To ensure that Canada continues to develop leading researchers and that Canadians have the skills to match the needs of Canada's modern economy, the Harper Government has committed to increase its investment in PromoScience, a program that supports community-based science camps and outreach activities for elementary school- and high school-aged Canadians.
Mr. Trost and Minister Van Loan visited with the students attending the University of Saskatchewan's Rocks and Fossils science camp, along with Interim University of Saskatchewan President Gordon Barnhart and SCI-FI Science Camps Coordinator Evan Nordquist. The university was one of this year's 66 PromoScience recipients. The funding awarded is supporting its SCI-FI Science Camps, Science Ambassador Program and PotashCorp Kamskénow. The goal of these programs is to encourage youth, in particular those living in rural and Aboriginal communities, to increase their participation and literacy in the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
PromoScience, a program managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, offers financial support to a wide variety of organizations that motivate youth to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through the work of these organizations, budding scientists and engineers learn about scientific methods, meet role models and develop valuable critical thinking skills.
Scott French
Director of Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
Office of the Minister of State (Science and Technology)
343-291-2700
Martin Leroux
Media and Public Affairs Officer
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
613-943-7618
media@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is the primary funding agency supporting Canada's science and engineering research community. The agency supports almost 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding approximately 12,000 professors every year and works with over 3,000 Canadian companies that are participating and investing in post-secondary research projects.
