National science competition for kids at Waterloo this week

Community

WATERLOO, Ont. (Wednesday, April 24, 2013) - More than 200 grade-school students from across Waterloo Region will test their scientific knowledge in an annual national science competition at the University of Waterloo this Friday.

Designed by post-secondary science students, the All Science Challenge is a unique, team-based event that is part of the nationwide Let’s Talk Science outreach program. The All Science Challenge features hands-on design activities that inspire Grades 6, 7 and 8 students to acquire science knowledge beyond their existing curriculum.

“This day-long enrichment competition helps kids get excited about science,” said Heather Neufeld, science outreach coordinator at Waterloo. “We are looking forward to welcoming 220 young science enthusiasts to our campus this year, and have a crowd of Waterloo scientists volunteering to make the day memorable for them.”

Following the opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. in the Mathematics 3 building, the teams will participate in a question-and-answer period with professors, post-doctoral fellows, staff and students from Waterloo's Faculty of Science, who will serve as judges. Students will test their knowledge in a range of disciplines, such as earth sciences, biology, chemistry and physics.

During the afternoon session, teams will compete in design project using only the immediate materials supplied to them. In past design challenges, students have constructed objects such as a rudimentary Morse code machine with only a nail, copper wire, paper clips and battery.

“We are pleased the University of Waterloo continues to support this wonderful initiative,” said Bonnie Schmidt, founder and president of Let’s Talk Science. “We hope the All Science Challenge will keep youth engaged in science and develop their potential to become future innovators and leaders.”

About Let’s Talk Science

Let’s Talk Science is an award-winning, national, charitable, science outreach organization. We deliver science learning programs and services that turn kids on to science, keep them engaged in learning and develop their potential to become 21st century stewards, innovators and citizens. Through our Science Outreach, we engage more than 2,200 enthusiastic post-secondary student volunteers at 33 universities and colleges across Canada to turn more than 110,000 kids on to science, engineering and technology each year. For more information about Let’s Talk Science, visit www.letstalkscience.ca.

About the University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's technology hub, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about Waterloo, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca.

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