During the week of June 1st-5th, ten high school students from Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Reource Centre attended the Verna J. Kirkness Science and Engineering Program at the University of Manitoba. A total of forty-three students participated in this program from high schools in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario, Nunavut, and Manitoba (including Winnipeg, Peguis, Thompson, and Norway House).
HBOIERC students pose with Verna Kirkness at the conclusion of their mini-university week
Students had the opportunity to participate in a hands on project based, mini-university science week that focused on topics such as: Geological Science and Environmental Change, Avian (Bird) Behavior and Conservation, Biosystems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Entomology (study of bugs and insects), Kinesiology (study of mechanics and body movements), Biological Sciences, Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, Human Nutritional Sciences, Nuclear Physics, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Each and every student worked alongside mentors and professors who participated in various tours. The students learned safety procedures related to working in labs, collected data and samples, analyzed their research findings, and tested their samples using a series of scientific machines and tools within their designated lab.
At the conclusion of this event, students had the opportunity to meet Verna J. Kirkness who had taught in Norway House earlier in her career. The mini-university participants were also honoured at a feast with dignitaries and guests, and shared their week experiences with group presentations.
For any grade 11 students who are interested in studying sciences, this is a great opportunity to experience hands on research and to prepare for possible post-secondary opportunities. A special thank you goes out to Frontier School Division, the University of Manitoba, and the Verna J. Kirkness Foundation for providing a great experience for our students.
