SUDBURY, ON – The Government of Canada is investing $123,000 in Science North over the next three years to deliver Girls’ Summer Science Camps across Northern Ontario during the summers of 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Science North is among the recipients of funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)’s 2018 PromoScience Program. As recognized by PromoScience, participation by females in science must grow to ensure Canada is growing and sustaining in a very competitive global landscape. Through Summer Science Camp programming, Science North aims to create an environment where girls feel comfortable to develop a positive attitude and interest in science.

The week-long, bilingual Girls’ Summer Science Camps are led by female Science North ‘Bluecoats’ with science, technology or education backgrounds from Northern Ontario who thrive on sharing their passion for science with the next generation of learners. Each day campers explore different science topics through hands-on experiences and learn about the relationships between science, technology and everyday life and careers in the science, technology, math and engineering (STEM) fields.

Science North’s newest Strategic Plan 2018-2023 outlines the direction for the organization over the next five years, including the priority of “Science North in all of Northern Ontario”, and the subsequent goal of “Science North is active and vibrant in all of Northern Ontario”. The funding will allow Science North to reach an estimated 1,050 girls in Northern Ontario through summer science camps in the following communities: Kenora, Dryden, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay and Timmins. To date, the first year of NSERC funding has allowed Science North to engage with 218 girls ages 6-11 in Northern Ontario communities.

“Our government is committed to investing in our country’s future research leaders and in the cutting-edge ideas that will lead Canada to sustainable social and economic growth. Scientific research is vital to a thriving, clean economy and provides the necessary evidence to make sound policy decisions for the future of our environment, climate, health and society.” stated Paul Lefebvre, Member of Parliament for Sudbury.

“Our government is helping Science North deliver positive hands-on scientific experiences and is engaging girls throughout Northern Ontario in a meaningful way. This program led by female role models will empower new generations of scientists and engineers. The world needs more science; we are fortunate to have one of the largest science centres across Canada in our community paving the way and inspiring young girls to pursue sciences and technology.” said Marc Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt

“We are very happy to receive this funding from NSERC, to allow Science North to continue bringing Summer Science Camps to youth across Northern Ontario. Over 20,000 children have participated in Science North Summer Science Camps since PromoScience became affiliated with the program in 2001. This funding is especially important as it will give girls the opportunity to engage in science through hands-on activities led by female scientists. Science North has a mandate to serve all of Northern Ontario, a significant geographic area, from Mattawa to the Manitoba border. Funding like this is essential to our success in engaging girls in STEM learning across the North, and encouraging science as a lifelong interest, professionally or personally.” stated Guy Labine, Science North CEO

Science North is Northern Ontario’s most popular tourist attraction and an educational resource operating the second- and eighth-largest science centres in Canada. Science North’s attractions include a science centre, IMAX® theatre, planetarium, butterfly gallery, special exhibits hall, and Dynamic Earth: Home of the Big Nickel. Science North also oversees an award-winning International Sales unit, which develops custom and ready-made exhibits and multimedia experiences for sale to science centres, museums, and other cultural institutions all over the world. Science North, in partnership with Laurentian University, offers North America’s first and only comprehensive Science Communication program, a joint Master’s and Diploma program.

As part of its mandate, Science North provides science experiences throughout Northern Ontario including outreach to schools and festivals, summer science camps and more, and has a permanent base in Thunder Bay providing outreach to the Northwest. Science North is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For more information please visit sciencenorth.ca.

NSERC invests over $1.2 billion each year in natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. Our investments deliver discoveries—valuable world-firsts in knowledge claimed by a brain trust of over 11,000 professors. Our investments enable partnerships and collaborations that connect industry with discoveries and the people behind them. Researcher-industry partnerships established by NSERC help inform research and development and solve scale-up challenges.

NSERC also provides scholarships and hands-on training experience for more than 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows. These young researchers will be the next generation of science and engineering leaders in Canada.