Unearthing excitement for science

Asia Maheu laughs when she remembers young visitors’ squeals of excitement on entering the Dino Pit in the University of Waterloo’s Earth Sciences Museum. 

“They see the T. Rex skull and the Albertosaurus skeleton and they freak out,” said the fourth-year geology student. 

It’s an excitement that Maheu shares. Growing up, she also loved dinosaurs and has fond memories of collecting fossils with her dad. But it wasn’t until Maheu arrived at Waterloo that she discovered Earth Sciences, a program that would allow her to pursue her passion.  

Maheu spent her fall 2023 co-op term conducting outreach programs at the Museum, thanks to the Conestoga Rovers Learning Resource Centre Endowment. Established in 2005 by Conestoga Rovers & Associates founders Don Haycock, Frank Rovers and Ron Schwark, the endowment supports Museum programming and the care and maintenance of exhibits; it also provides funding for co-op and work-study students who conduct tours and assist with program improvements. 

The endowment is just one example of Conestoga-Rovers’ long-standing support for interdisciplinary education and the company’s proud history of hiring Waterloo co-op students and graduates. 

“It was rewarding to share something that I am so interested in, especially with younger kids,” Maheu said. 

Maheu’s work at the Museum supplied other benefits as well. She enjoyed being able to see and handle the minerals she was studying in class. And speaking to visitors about everything from fossils to mining to natural disasters boosted her confidence and reinforced her own learning. 

Maheu also built relationships with Museum staff and faculty in the Earth Sciences department — connections that will be valuable as she progresses in her academic and professional career.                   

“I feel like saying thank you to the donors who created this award isn't enough because of how much this experience benefited me. I loved fostering that curiosity about science.”