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What are we all about?

What are we all about?. Science Outreach – Athabasca. 20 January 2009. Some people promote sports, some promote art. We promote science. Science Outreach – Athabasca. Science Outreach – Athabasca is an ad hoc subcommittee of the Centre for Science, Athabasca University Alberta, Canada.

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What are we all about?

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  1. What are we all about? Science Outreach – Athabasca 20 January 2009

  2. Some people promote sports,some promote art.We promote science. Science Outreach – Athabasca

  3. Science Outreach – Athabascais an ad hoc subcommittee of theCentre for Science, Athabasca UniversityAlberta, Canada

  4. Objectives of Science Outreach - Athabasca Promote science in the greater Athabasca area and beyond. Advance knowledge about the Athabasca River Basin.

  5. 1. Greater Athabasca Area The Greater Athabasca Area includes the towns of Athabasca, Slave Lake, Lac la Biche and Westlock, as well as the settlements within the Aspen View School Division plus Calling Lake

  6. 2. Athabasca River Basin • The Athabasca River Basin (ARB) extends from the Rocky Mountains to Lake Athabasca. • Most of the ARB lies within the province of Alberta but the Clearwater tributary extends into Saskatchewan.

  7. Who are we? biologist ex-coordinator retired nurse • Not In photo: • retired teacher • recreation coordinator science teacher coordinator librarian web designer biologist Team members, March 2002

  8. Activities • Public talks and presentations • School talks • Field trips • Traveling exhibits • Brochures • Interpretive signs • Web site

  9. Activities • Public talks and presentations – examples of past events • School talks • Field trips • Traveling exhibits • Brochures • Interpretive signs • Web site

  10. Public talks and presentations: Speaker Series ElstonDzus, Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Marc Garneau, Honorary Doctorate of Athabasca University Terry Thormin, Royal Alberta Museum Joan Galat, Dot to Dot Books John Acorn, “The Nature Nut”

  11. Public talks and presentations: Chemistry Magic Shows • 2001 “Lab Survivor” • >400 people • 2003 “Lord of the Benzene Rings “ >600 people • 2005 “CHEM TV” • >600 people

  12. Public talks and presentations: Karvonen Nature Film Festivals • In cooperation with Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of Athabasca • 2005 >1,000 people • 2006 > 1,200 people

  13. Public talks and presentations:Athabasca River Basin Conference • In cooperation with Athabasca Peace Initiative, Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of Athabasca, and Athabasca University • 2007, >480 people over three days

  14. Activities • Public talks and presentations • School talks – mainly in Aspen View School District • Field trips • Traveling exhibits • Brochures • Interpretive signs • Web site

  15. School talks Children of Athabasca play school looking at live tarantula Also in: Boyle Grassland HutteriteColony Lac la Biche Rochester Smith In Town of Athabasca: Athabasca Playschool Athabasca Day Care EPC (high school) Landing Trail Whispering Hills

  16. Activities • Public talks and presentations • School talks • Field trips – for general public and schools • Traveling exhibits • Brochures • Interpretive signs • Web site

  17. Field trips: Athabasca Butterfly Counts • Since 1999 • 2001: highest attendance in Alberta(out of 40 such counts)

  18. Field trips: Christmas Bird Counts • Helped advertise counts for Athabasca, Lac La Biche and Slave Lake • Helped run counts in Athabasca

  19. Field trips: Science Day Camps • In cooperation with: • Athabasca Regional Recreation • Junior Forest Wardens • Youth Apprenticeship Spring Camp, Lac la Biche

  20. Activities • Public talks and presentations • School talks • Field trips • Traveling exhibits – We borrow from others as well as make our own. • Brochures • Interpretive signs • Web site

  21. Traveling exhibits: Science Alberta Foundation • “Jungle Fever”, 2002, Athabasca • “Murder in a Minor Key”, Canada Day 2003, Athabasca

  22. Travelling exhibits:Telus World of Science (formerly Odyssium) • “Night Sky"and planetarium; various physics demonstrations • January 2002, 200 people in Athabasca; September-October 2003, 1200 students in Athabasca and Smith

  23. Traveling Exhibits: Canadian Museum of Nature • Mineral exhibit • February 2002, 350 students in Athabasca

  24. Traveling exhibits: Science Outreach - Athabasca • “Mollusks: Snails, Clams and Squids” and “Birds of the Boreal Forest” • Various libraries and 14 schools of Aspen View School District

  25. Traveling exhibits: Science Outreach - Athabasca • “Extinct and Extant Bison Skulls” • County of Athabasca and Athabasca library

  26. Traveling exhibits: Science Outreach - Athabasca • We made25 junior & 25 senior back packs with various science activities • Distributed by libraries, schools and parks; given out at talks

  27. Traveling exhibits: Information Displays about Science Outreach – Athabasca • Canada Day events • Various open houses

  28. Activities • Public talks and presentations • School talks • Field trips • Traveling exhibits • Brochures- also available on our web site • Interpretive signs • Web site

  29. Brochures • Butterflies, dragonflies, birds and mammals of the greater Athabasca area • In cooperation with Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of Athabasca and others

  30. Activities • Public talks and presentations • School talks • Field trips • Traveling exhibits • Brochures • Interpretive signs • Web site

  31. Interpretive signs: Fossils • Fossil clams and snails at Athabasca University, Athabasca

  32. Interpretive signs: Athabasca River Basin • Riverfront Park, Athabasca • Includes aspects of: astronomy, biology, geography, meteorology

  33. Interpretive signs: Arthropod Mobile • Formerly at Athabasca University, Athabasca

  34. Activities • Public talks and presentations • School talks • Field trips • Traveling exhibits • Brochures • Interpretive signs • Web site

  35. Web site: Home Page http://scienceoutreach.ab.ca

  36. Web site: Kids’ Pages http://scienceoutreach.ab.ca

  37. Web site: Public Participation Pages

  38. Web page: Resource Pages http://scienceoutreach.ab.ca • Web links for parents and teachers • Spreadsheets for Athabasca University collections, e.g. plants, birds, mammals • Electronic copies of brochures • Data on Athabasca River Basin , especially bibliography

  39. “Have science, will travel” Science Outreach – Athabasca is one of the few science outreach programs that regularly goes outside of its institution’s walls • Science Outreach - Athabasca • Telus World of Science, Edmonton • Xxx, Toronto • Xxx, Waterloo • Xxx, Montreal • Xxx, Corner Brook Map modified from: University of Illinois, Physics Van web page: http://van.physics.uiuc.edu/k12/map.php?map=CANADA

  40. Accomplishments of Science Outreach - Athabasca • Between 2001 and 2008, • 250 activities • in 19 communities • to over 17,000 children and adults

  41. Summary of events conducted by Science Outreach – Athabasca. • # = number of events, Attend. = attendance, Major events = special speakers, chemistry shows, film festivals, conference). These figures exclude work with our web site, brochures, signage and organizational meetings.

  42. Work in Progress • More public and school talks and presentations • Bibliography of the Athabasca River Basin (present count >11,000 science publications) • Updating and improving of web site

  43. Major Funding Sources ($15,000+) • Athabasca University, 2001-present • Alberta Science and Research Investments Program (ASRIP), 2001-2004 • National Sciences and Engineering Research Council - PromoScience, 2004-2007 • Suncor Energy Foundation, 2008-2010 • Alberta Culture and Community Spirit: Communities Initiative Program, 2008-2010 • Alberta Pacific Forest Industries, 2008-2010

  44. Smaller Funding Sources • County of Athabasca • Athabasca area businesses • Buy Low Foods • Extra Foods • Miller Western Industries • Super 8 Motel • Town of Athabasca • Public donations

  45. Help and cooperation from Athabasca University • Centre for Science • Office of the Vice President, Academic • Computing Services • Research Centre • Financial Services • Public Affairs • Facilities

  46. Help and cooperation from: • Crooked Creek Conservancy Society of Athabasca • Aspen View School District • Athabasca Regional Recreation • Junior Forest Wardens • Athabasca Peace Initiative • Canada World Youth • Athabasca Native Friendship Center • Many volunteers from the local community • Telus World of Science (Odyssium) • Science Alberta Foundation • Canadian Museum of Nature • Royal Alberta Museum

  47. Thank you for your support for: Science Outreach - Athabasca • Attending our events • Visiting our web site • Volunteer work • Writing letters of support for our funding applications • Financial and in-kind contributions

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