Year of Science

Year of Science wraps with $1.1-million legacy

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 10:00:00 -0700

VANCOUVER – The Province is wrapping up the Year of Science with a $1.1-million investment to create a legacy of science education for British Columbia youth helping prepare them for jobs in the knowledge-based economy of the future.

Science World will receive $1.0 million to support outreach programs such as the Program for Awareness and Learning of Science, focussed on improving interest in science for students in grades kindergarten through eight. Additionally, the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences will receive $100,000 to support targeted programs, including math camps and mentorship programs, focussed on improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal students in math.

Quotes:

Dr. Moira Stilwell, Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Research and Innovation:
“Getting young people excited about sciences and technology is not a task that ends because the Year of Science is over. This legacy funding will ensure that we continue to educate our young people about the tremendous opportunities that the sciences provide, such as fulfilling, well-paying jobs.”

Bryan Tisdall, president & CEO of Science World:
“The Year of Science has been a fantastic success in bringing science literacy into the larger conversation on where we all want our province to go and how the youth of today are going to lead us in the future. This legacy funding will allow Science World to continue to work with community partners around the province to ignite young minds to the wonders of science – sparking curiosity, imagination and creativity – and raise awareness of the exciting possibility of careers in science and technology”

Dr. Alejandro Adem, director of Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences:
“Receiving this funding is fantastic news and we intend to use it to continue promoting the mathematical sciences and providing enhanced educational and training opportunities for Aboriginal students throughout British Columbia.”

Quick Facts about the Year of Science:

Last fall, the Province proclaimed the 2010-11 school year the Year of Science in B.C. to raise awareness among B.C. families, particularly young people, about the many exciting, and rewarding careers in science-related fields.
Over the next 10 years, approximately one in every eight job openings will be in a science-related occupation.
With its partners – Science World, Vancouver Aquarium and the Science Fair Foundation – the Year of Science took science on the road to communities throughout B.C.
Estimated Year of Science participation to date: K-12 students – 198,270; Parents – 28,799; Post-secondary students – 18,534

Learn More:
http://yearofsciencebc.ca/
http://www.scienceworld.ca/
http://www.pims.math.ca/

Contact:

Sheldon Johnson
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 213-5811

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Click here to view the PDF.

Science Fair Foundation BC Announce Winning schools

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:31:49 -0700

It has been an exciting school year jam-packed full of experiments, creative ideas, and science successes. Among those achieving science success this year are the winners of the Science Fair Foundation’s Year of Science challenge. Congratulations to Duncan Cran Elementary in Fort St. John, Trafalgar Middle School in Nelson, and Captain Meares Elementary Secondary School in Tahsis who were the top three schools having the most students participate in science challenges throughout the year.

Click here for more information.

Fort St. John student wins Year of Science scholarship

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:36:27 -0700

VANCOUVER – Jacquie Gulevich, a Grade 11 student from North Peace Secondary in Fort St. John, won a $25,000 scholarship today as the grand prize winner of the Year of Science “Choose Science, Go Far, Win Big” contest.

Dr. Moira Stilwell, Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Research and Innovation, made the presentation to 17-year-old Gulevich, who was elated with the win. Gulevich is undecided about which B.C. university to attend, but plans to use the money to study health sciences and eventually medicine.

Contest judges evaluated 85 YouTube video entries. Six semi-finalists were chosen and awarded a $250 science-themed prize package. Gulevich won the competition with a video submission that asked this question, “Can naturally occurring blue-green lake algae be turned into green gold in the form of biofuel?”

Entries were judged based on enthusiasm, originality of idea and ability to carry out the idea as an experiment or put a ‘mythbusters’ type of question to the test.

The Year of Science is holding its Grand Finale today at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Quotes:

Dr. Moira Stilwell, Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Research and Innovation –
“I am delighted to award this prize to such a gifted student, and pleased that so many young people took the time to investigate some very imaginative science questions. British Columbia needs bright young minds like these to direct their passion and curiosity towards science-related activities and careers.”

Pat Pimm, MLA for Peace River North –
“I want to congratulate Jacquie on a job well done on submitting such a thought-provoking and imaginative question. I'm sure a successful career in science awaits all the applicants who took the time to participate in this contest.”

Dr. Sandy Eix, science learning lead, community engagement, Science World –
“One of the best things we can do to develop young scientists is to encourage them to ask questions about the world around them and to take those questions seriously. It was great to see curiosity about such a wide variety of topics, from the strength of hair to global environmental concerns.”

Quick Facts about the Year of Science:

Last fall, the Province proclaimed the 2010-11 school year the Year of Science in B.C. to raise awareness among B.C. families, particularly young people, about the many exciting, and rewarding careers in science-related fields.
Over the next 10 years, approximately one in every eight job openings will be in a science-related occupation.
With its partners – Science World, Vancouver Aquarium and the Science Fair Foundation – the Year of Science took science on the road to communities throughout B.C.

View the winning entries under "Results" on the Year of Science YouTube page: www.youtube.com/yearofsciencebc

For more information on the Year of Science, go to:www.yearofsciencebc.ca

Contact

Lauren Mulholland
Public Affairs Officer
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 889-3922
Lauren.Mulholland@gov.bc.ca

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Click here to download the PDF.

Seriously, can home remedies cure the hiccups?

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:00:00 -0700

COQUITLAM – Do home remedies offer a cure for hiccups? That is the question asked in a YouTube video by 18-year-old Tamara Babcock, the fifth semi-finalist selected in the Year of Science “Choose Science, Go Far, Win Big” contest.

Babcock is a Grade 12 student at Gleneagle Secondary in Coquitlam. Her winning idea makes her eligible for the grand prize – a $25,000 scholarship to any B.C. post-secondary institution. In her entry, she points out that a number of home remedies claim to cure the hiccups, but questions if there is any truth to their claims. For example, will standing on your head and drinking a glass of water cure your hiccups? See the video for a demonstration.

Douglas Horne, MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, presented Babcock with her $250 science-themed prize package in front of her classmates today. No headstands were required.

Based on the popular TV show, MythBusters, B.C.’s Year of Science video contest asked young people to upload videos of their ideas for science experiments or myths to be tested. All entries were submitted to a Year of Science YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/yearofsciencebc

In total, six semi-finalists will be chosen before the grand prize winner is announced June 15.

Quotes:

Dr. Moira Stilwell, Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Research and Innovation –
“Tamara’s idea is amusing and provocative since, on occasion, hiccups have been known to last for days, even weeks. What is required is more research into the subject and that’s what this exercise is all about – stimulating curiosity and scientific enquiry among young people.”

Douglas Horne, MLA Coquitlam-Burke Mountain –
“We want to encourage young people to get excited about science and the science-related opportunities that exist in almost every occupation from developing the latest cellphone technology to winning the Stanley Cup, curing cancer or curing the hiccups. It all begins with asking questions about the world around you.”

Tamara Babcock –
“When I was younger I used to have a book that contained cures for the hiccups, and I always wondered how they worked. In my high school Biology class, the science behind the hiccups was explained, but not why these home remedies work. I want to know if they work and how.”

Quick Facts about the Year of Science:

Throughout the 2010-11 school year, the Year of Science has engaged young people in science by showcasing how science works, who scientists are, the kind of work they do and why science matters in our everyday lives.
B.C.’s future depends on a new kind of literacy in science, technology, math and engineering.
Over the next 10 years, approximately one in every eight job openings will be in a science-related occupation.
By encouraging young people of our province to pursue a science education today, they are being prepared for the jobs of tomorrow by ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to build a strong economy and bring about a brighter future for everyone.

View the winning entry under "Results" on the Year of Science YouTube page: www.youtube.com/yearofsciencebc

For more information on the Year of Science, go to: www.yearofsciencebc.ca

Contact:

Lauren Mulholland
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 952-0615
Lauren.Mulholland@gov.bc.ca

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Click here to view the PDF.

Year of Science steams ahead with energy from space

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:23:54 -0700

VANCOUVER – Scientists at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre demonstrated steam power – in space – today in an experiment suggested by 16-year-old Abigail Sherwood, the sixth (and last) semi - finalist to be selected in the Year of Science “Choose Science, Go Far, Win Big” contest.

Sherwood is a Grade 11 student at Yale Secondary in Abbotsford. In her video entry, she asks, “Can we solve the Earth’s energy problems by using the sun’s energy to produce steam and create usable energy?”

Today’s experiment established that the sun’s energy could produce steam and create usable energy, but one of the challenges – currently being explored by scientists and engineers – is how to get the energy back to Earth.

After the experiment, John van Dongen, MLA for Abbotsford South, presented Sherwood with her $250 science-themed prize package in front of friends and family.

Sherwood’s winning idea makes her eligible for the Year of Science grand prize – a $25,000 scholarship to any B.C. post-secondary institution. The winner will be announced June 15.

Quotes:

John van Dongen, MLA for Abbotsford-South –
“We want young people to get excited about science, to seek solutions to the challenges we face, and to consider the many interesting and rewarding jobs they can find in science-related fields.”

Robert Appleton, executive director, H.R. MacMillan Space Centre –
“Abigail’s idea has sparked great discussion about space science between our staff and visitors. The value of programs like Year of Science is that they inspire people of all ages to explore the relevance and importance of science in their everyday lives.”

Abigail Sherwood, sixth semi-finalist in Year of Science contest –
“I chose a question about steam power because every summer I see the Kettle Valley steam engine in the Okanagan and I am always amazed by the power of steam. That got me thinking about other ways steam could be used.”

Quick Facts about the Year of Science:

Throughout the 2010-11 school year, the Year of Science has engaged young people in science by showcasing how science works, who scientists are, the kind of work they do and why science matters in our everyday lives.
B.C.’s future depends on a new kind of literacy in science, technology, math and engineering.
Over the next 10 years, approximately one in every eight job openings will be in a science-related occupation.
By encouraging young people of our province to pursue a science education today, they are being prepared for the jobs of tomorrow by ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to build a strong economy and bring about a brighter future for everyone.

View the winning entry under "Results" on the Year of Science YouTube page: www.youtube.com/yearofsciencebc

For more information on the Year of Science, go to: www.yearofsciencebc.ca

Contacts:

Lauren Mulholland
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 952-0615
Lauren.Mulholland@gov.bc.ca

Tracy Cromwell
Director of Development and Marketing
H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
604 738-7827 ext. 249
tcromwell@spacecentre.ca

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Click here to view the PDF.

Year of Science to Announce Final Semi-finalist

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:30:00 -0700

Shhh...the Year of Science has a secret. We’re getting ready to announce the FINAL semi-finalist in the ‘Choose Science. Go Far. Win Big.’ contest. All year long, science minded British Columbians have been coming up with creative ideas for science experiments – from testing the strength of hair to determining the electrifying power of eels! So, who is the final semi-finalist and what brilliant idea have they come up with? Find out on June 8 at 11:15 am as we reveal the final semi-finalist and conduct a demonstration of their experiment.

Click here to view the live stream on June 8th at 11:15 am.

DNA identifies victim of Titanic sinking

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:00:00 -0700

The Titanic sunk in 1912, that’s almost 100 years ago. 1,517 people died in the sinking and many of the bodies were never identified. Now, scientists are using DNA testing to identify the victims. Scientists conducted DNA tests using a pair of shoes that belonged to a Titanic victim. The results linked the DNA found in the shoes to the remains of a 19-month-old English boy named Sidney Leslie Goodwin. Science is solving this puzzle one DNA test at a time.

Click here for more information.

Printing 3D Organs for Transplants

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:00:00 -0700

Nowadays 3D technology seems to be everywhere. There are 3D TV’s, 3D movies at your local cinema and 3D printers that print organs. Yes, that’s right! Scientists have successfully printed a quarter-sized, two-chamber heart. The printers use cells rather than inkjet cartridges. Soon this technology will be able to eliminate patient wait times for donor organs.

Click here for more information.

Yawns might be contagious, but your chimp friend still can’t stay home

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:36:18 -0700

Guess what? If you are a chimp and you see your chimp buddy yawn, you’ll probably yawn too! Researchers in Atlanta saw this happen when they showed chimps in their facility video of other chimps yawning. What was the neat twist in this story? If they were watching chimps from their own group, they were more likely to yawn than if they were watching a chimp from a group they didn’t belong to. Regardless, if you are a chimp or a human and you’ve caught a case of the yawns from your friends, it is still no excuse to stay home from school.

Pass the Pre-historic Tofu Please!

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:28:36 -0700

You may think that vegetarianism is a recent craze, but as it turns out, scientific findings suggest that an ancient human relative preferred salad over prehistoric steak.

Clearly ahead of his time, this trend-setting vegetarian grazed the Earth between 1.2 and 2.3 million years ago. The humanoid’s powerful jaw and massive molar teeth (three times the size of ours!) were well-suited to chomp on tropical grasses and herbs.

Click here to read more.

5 Personalities at the Party

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:28:35 -0700

Next time you’re out celebrating at a birthday party or another social event, try taking note of everyone’s personalities. Do you notice five main personality traits that stand out among the party guests? Scientists now believe that generally, people fall into five personality traits: open, conscientious, extravert, agreeable or neurotic. Which one are you? Find out here.

Still think that science hasn’t revealed your true personality? Well there are many science theories that try and pinpoint your personality, including Myers Briggs and Keirsey tests. Remember, when taking a personality assessment you might find you have traits in more than one category, or might have more than one answer to questions. Nothing is set in stone, so don’t take the results too seriously!

Where’s your tail?

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:20:58 -0700

Dogs have tails, cats have tails, monkeys have tails...so where’s your tail? It’s believed that humans used to have tails, but stopped growing them at some point during evolution. But don’t worry, technology has found a way for you to experience the feeling of having a tail. SiliFulin is a robot tail that is worn around your waist and reacts to your movements. Now you can fit in with your tailed animal friends!

SiliFulin

A Robot Tail that Moves in Reaction to Human Movement.

Science Achievement Awards

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:17:37 -0700

You’re crazy good at science. It’s a well-known fact. So who’s going to recognize all your hard work and science achievements? The Science Achievements Awards annually recognizes outstanding science students at the high school level throughout B.C. with their Young Scientist Award. A joint initiative between the B.C. Innovation Council and the B.C. Science Teachers’ Association, the award encourages students to pursue a science-related education and career. Stay tuned as this year’s winners will be announced in the summer.

You don’t get topnotch science students without a topnotch teacher. The B.C. Science Teachers’ Association recognises outstanding science teachers across the province with their science teacher awards. If your science teacher is recognized for how great they are, remember it will be your turn to put a gold star by their name. Or maybe you should give them a golden apple?

Student goes extra mile to make discovery

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:11:36 -0700

When Emilia Czyszczon and her classmates were asked to collect a mud sample to analyze for viruses, she decided to travel over 190 km to a cave while others found mud sources nearby. The result? Czyszczon discovered a new virus in the glacial mud sample she collected, and it is called Czyszczon1. Now she dreams of making more discoveries, and possibly winning a Nobel Prize. She is making a good start on making her goals come true.

Year of Science Semi-finalist Impresses at Canada Wide Science Fair

Fri, 27 May 2011 10:11:48 -0700

Congratulations to Jacquie Gulevich whose idea to harvest the bacteria from a Fort St. John lake to create biofuel captivated audiences at the 2011 Canada Wide Science Fair this month in Markham, Ontario.

Jacquie first caught our eye with her submission for our “Choose Science. Go far!” contest. She proposed that lake bacteria would work as a carbon neutral biofuel – and we agreed that it was an idea worth investigating!

Way to go Jackie!

Art and Social Media Increase Donor Registration

Fri, 20 May 2011 10:35:43 -0700

Combining art, computers and social media, Cyrus McEachern and Eva Markvoort created an online campaign that doubled the online transplant donor registration rates in B.C. Markvoort lived with cystic fibrosis, an incurable, genetic disease until her death at the age of 25 while waiting for a lung transplant. The powerful message she left behind continues to raise awareness about the disease and inspires people to become organ donors. Her inspirational message sparked a social media campaign which has boosted the number people registering online as organ donors. Markvoort’s story is documented in a film titled 65_RedRoses.

Click here to read more.

Send in the Drones

Wed, 18 May 2011 16:00:08 -0700

Researchers now imagine a time when drone aircrafts will be regularly sent into dangerous areas, such as fires, instead of planes piloted by humans. Drones have already been used during hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. When will drones be regularly used? It could be soon, as the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. is already drafting new rules for their use. Click here to read more.

Give your future a boost with science

Wed, 18 May 2011 12:48:45 -0700

Did you know that of the one million jobs that will be created in B.C. over the next decade, more than 70% will require some post-secondary education? And if you have a science education in your back pocket, you will have access to more jobs and higher pay? Remember, science isn’t just great fun for your brain, it will be good for your wallet and you will be able to do more cool jobs in the long run!

Click here to read the full article.

Science and the Arts Expo Focuses On Jobs of the Future

Mon, 16 May 2011 15:00:00 -0700

VICTORIA – More than 1,000 students from Vancouver Island and elsewhere are booked to tour expo exhibits and speak to industry professionals at career roundtables during tomorrow’s Science and the Arts Expo.

B.C.’s Year of Science is intended to raise awareness among B.C. families, in particular young people, about the many exciting and well-paid careers in science, and this and other science expos are doing just that.

By showing the science connection to the arts in fields such as digital media, design and special effects, music, and more, the expos demonstrate how science and technology impact our everyday lives and the communities we live in, and provide students and others the opportunity to meet the real people behind the science.

Held at the Royal BC Museum, the Expo runs from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. with a Family Fun Night from 5p.m. – 7 p.m. and is free to the public – including admission to the museum and two-for-one IMAX tickets.

Quote:

Dr. Moira Stilwell, Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Research and Innovation to the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation – "With the support of science leaders like tomorrow’s presenters and exhibitors, as well as educators and community organizations throughout B.C., our government is promoting increased literacy in science so we will be well-positioned to meet future workforce demands. Projections show that in the next 10 years one in eight jobs will be in science-related occupations, so it’s essential to get young people interested in science.”

About the Year of Science:

Last fall, the B.C. government proclaimed the 2010 – 2011 school year the Year of Science.
Four science expos have been held during the Year of Science.
B.C.’s economic future depends on a new kind of literacy in science, technology, math and engineering.

Learn More:
www.YearofScienceBC.ca

Media Contact:

Lauren Mulholland
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 952-0615
250 889-3922 (cell)
Lauren.Mulholland@gov.bc.ca

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Click here to view the PDF.

Billion Dollar Bats

Sun, 15 May 2011 11:36:24 -0700

Bats are evil and they turn into blood sucking vampires – this is the image that is regularly portrayed in the movies. In the real world, it’s quite the opposite! The ‘brown bat’ is valued by many, especially farmers, because they act as natural pest control by gobbling up millions of pesky insects. This saves the agricultural industry billions of dollars. A mysterious and incurable disease called the white-nose syndrome has sadly killed over a million bats. Hopefully scientists can find a way to save these billion dollar bats!

Click here to read more.