Outreach Organizations

As professionals, not only are we responsible for leading the field in research, but also for promoting the the field as a whole. One of the easiest (and perhaps most rewarding) ways of doing this is to volunteer to give a presentation in a school setting. Getting started, though, and finding contacts can be tough. Here is the place to start.

Listed below are some starting points: websites of organizations which coordinate getting scientists out into the schools and the community. Most programs are quite flexible, and depend on how much you want to get involved. Some offer training sessions or pairings with a teacher, while others are less formal. If you know of an organization not listed here, please let us know at cascaed@astro.utoronto.ca

For more information on the importance of Astronomy outreach, and more tips on how you can get involved, visit "Outreach: Why you should do it and how to succeed" by J.R. Percy.

There is something all of us can do to promote astronomy awareness in Canada – check out the links below for further information!

Europlanet Best Practice Guide
Website: Best Practice Guide (PDF)

The Europlanet Outreach Team and Steering Committee have teamed up with the
Galileo Teacher Training Programme (GTTP) to produce a set of best practice
guidelines for outreach activities targeted at schools and teachers. This may be very useful in helping prepare scientists to better communicate with their audiences whether talking to schools, organising activities for schools or organising teaching training sessions.

Let’s Talk Science
Area: National
Main website: http://www.letstalkscience.ca

Partnership Program:
http://www.letstalkscience.ca/en/volunteers/partnership-program.html
(from the original website:) “The LTS Partnership Program is a national network of volunteers from the scientific research community who perform hands-on Science in the classroom and the community. Consisting primarily of graduate (master's and PhD) students, these volunteers are based at over 15 Canadian universities from coast to coast. The volunteers are trained in basic education theory and communication using a standardized training program, and are enthusiastic about bringing their knowledge and love of Science into the classroom or community group setting. One option available to volunteers is the "partnership" model, in which a volunteer is partnered with a teacher or class for the course of a school year, developing a personal relationship with the students and providing a positive role model. The many activities performed by Partnership Program volunteers include hands-on activities, Science fair mentoring and judging, Demonstrations and Lab tours.”

The following colleges and universities already have the Partnership Program available. For more information, visit the contact page at Let's Talk Science.

• Cambrian College
• Carleton University
• Confederation College
• Dalhousie University
• Fleming College
  
• Laurentian University (bilingual)
• McGill University (bilingual)
• McMaster University
• Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Queen’s University


• Simon Fraser University
• Université du Québec à Montréal (bilingual)
• University of Alberta
• University of British Columbia
• University of Calgary
  
• University of Guelph
• University of Manitoba
• University of New Brunswick (bilingual)
• University of Ottawa (bilingual)
• University of Prince Edward Island - NEW!


• University of Saskatchewan
  
• University of Toronto at Mississauga
• University of Toronto, St. George
• University of Toronto, Scarborough
• University of Victoria
• University of Waterloo
  
• University of Western Ontario
  
• University of Winnipeg (bilingual)
• York University

Scientists in School
Area: Southern and Eastern Ontario, including Ottawa and Peterborough/Kawartha
Main website: http://www.scientistsinschool.ca/

(from the website:) “Scientists in School is an incorporated, not-for-profit organization and registered charity that brings science to life for elementary classrooms through fun and exciting, "hands-on", natural and applied science and technology programs. By involving children throughout their elementary grades as "scientists" under the guidance of an enthusiastic scientist, our aim is to inspire greater understanding and interest in all young minds and to expose students to a variety of scientist role models, many of whom are female. A complementary aim is to provide mentoring for elementary teachers, both right in their classrooms and through teacher workshops, in order to enhance teacher capability and confidence in teaching science and technology using "hands-on" methods.”

Innovators in the Schools Program
Area: Saskatchewan
Main website: http://www.saskschools.ca/~innovate/inn_sch.html

(from the website:) “This national program was initiated in Saskatchewan to contribute to the development of positive attitudes in young people toward learning science and mathematics. This program complements the Core Curriculum Initiatives of Saskatchewan Education to make science and mathematics more realistic and exciting. Goals of the program include increasing the awareness of science and technology, expanding the knowledge of the careers available, and encouraging the enrollment of students in secondary mathematic and science courses.”

Scientists and Innovators in the Schools
Area: British Columbia
Main website: http://www.scienceworld.ca/sis

(from the website:) “Scientists & Innovators in the Schools (SIS) is a program that helps address British Columbia's need for more scientists, engineers technologists and technicians to promote students' interest in these areas. Our goal is to inspire students with exciting, in-school presentations by real scientists. The program is offered to Grades K–12 everywhere in BC.”

Scientists and Innovators in the Schools (Atlantic Science Links Association)
Area: Nova Scotia
Main website: http://atlanticsciencelinks.dal.ca/

(from the website:) “SITS is a predominantly volunteer-driven programme that helps students (grades Primary to 12) become more excited about and interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through its various projects, SITS provides a vital link between the education and STEM communities in Nova Scotia. Teachers have been making use of the resources provided by SITS since 1989. What began as a small group of scientists fielding requests for presentations from the public and schools has grown into an organization that reaches hundreds of schools and thousands of students every year."

More links to teaching astronomy in Canada:

The Importance of Astronomy Outreach
Canadian Astronomy
Online Astronomy Education Resources
Post-Secondary Level Teacher Resources
Additional Resources for Instructors

created by the CASCA education Webteam, (2010)