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Spring 2013 NewsletterVolume 1, Issue 2

The action packed summer is almost here! Let's Talk Science is getting

read to host an exciting array of events covering everything fromQuantum Physics to Ocean Science and Math.

Last Semester Review

LTS UVic proudly hosted two very successful events whichbrought over 160 grade 9-12 students to the UVic campuswhere they experienced hand-on minds-on learning related totheir interest and curriculum. These symposia receivedexcellent feedback from students and teachers.

The Social Science Symposium was organized in collaborationwith the Department of Geography and the School ofEnvironmental Studies. The theme for this symposium was

'Coastal Biodiversity' which inspired students to research anddiscuss a variety of topics ranging from First Nations'relationship with salmon to coastal sand dune ecosystems ' .

Students presenting at the Social Science Symposium!

The Biomedical Symposium was supported by the Centre forBiomedical Research and the Division of Medical Sciences atUVic. The symposium was on the theme of 'The Changing Brain'. Thestudents had the opportunity to visit research labs where they saw first

hand how brain experiments are conducted.

Summer 2013 Calendar:

April 26-27

Ocean Science Symposium(Grades 10-12)

April 27

Beaver's Mythbusters ScienceCamp

May 3

All Science Challenge (Grades 6-8)

May 10

Engineering Olympics (Grades 8-10)

May 11

Brain Bee (Grades 9-12)

May 17

Math PI - Interactive Math event(Grades 9-12)

May 18

ELMACON Math Challenge(Grades 5-7)

To Register for this event clickhere!

May 24

Quantum Mechanics Symposium(Grades 10-12)

May 25

http://events.pims.math.ca/rsvp/victoria-elmacon-2013

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Dr. Paul Zehr from the Centre for Biomedical Research speaks at theBrain Symposium

We Thank our Supporters!

The success of Let's Talk Science events depends entirely onthe goodwill and committment of its supporters. We want toacknowledge the following faculty for their time and dedicationthat made the two spring symposia possible:

Dr. Chris Darimont and Dr. Ian Walker from the Department ofGeography. Dr Brian Starzmoski from the School of EnvironmentalStudies. Dr. Paul Zehr from the Centre for Biomedical Research. Dr.Robert Chow from the Department of Biology and and Dr. Jim Tanakafrom the Department of Psychology. Dr. Leigh Swayne and Dr. CraigBrown from the Division of Medical Sciences.

Shout out to the Volunteers!

Let's Talk Science is a largely volunteer based organization andto facilitate events it relies on a highly motivated and diversevolunteer base. We want to thank all the amazing individualswho have made past events possible. We also extend ourwelcome to our new coordinator Dr. Anna Patten. Anna hasbeen a super active volunteer for many years and it's awesometo have her in a coordinator capacity just before the busysummer.

Medical Student Lecture Series: The medical student lectures arenow a regular feature that facili tate interaction of medical students withthe larger community on general health topics. In the Spring semesterthere were 3 seminars held. The first one titled 'The HeartbeatDemystified' explored the role of ion pathways in making the heart beatand was presented by Natasha Qureshi. Leah Ellingwood and LaurenWhittaker lead the second seminar on 'Antibiotic resistance: Rise of theSuperbug'. Lastly, Khatereh Aminoltejari and Jessica Nathan presentedon 'Fecal Transplants: Strage or Miracle Cure'. The seminars were wellattended and got local press coverage as well . The seminar on FecalTransplants was featured in the Monday Magazine March 21st issue.

Other Events

Through the semester classroom visits have continued. In February, weparticipated in the Westshore Town Centre Hobby Days where we hadmultiple activity stations lead by volunteers with hands-on science

activities for the general public. LTS UVic has participated in this eventfor 3 years and has received a very good response from the public. Thisyear we had 250 visitors. LTS UVic also had activity stations at theVancouver Island Regional Science Fair for the participants during theirlunch break.

New Relationships

Beaveree: Regional BeaversCamp

June 1

Forensic Anthropology Day(Grades 10-12)

To Register for the above events or formore information, please email:

LTS@uvic.ca

Don't forget to Like us on Facebook!

and Follow us on twitter!

Coming up on May 3rd

25 teams, 95 students registered!

Brain Symposium: Visit to a research lab

Get involved!

Did you know that Let's Talk Science offersnumerous volunteer opportunities for

undergraduate and graduate students fromall faculties? click here to find out more!

Exploring the Medical Sciences labs

http://www.letstalkscience.ca/uvic/volunteers/how-to-get-involved.htmlhttp://www.letstalkscience.ca/challenge.htmlhttps://twitter.com/ltsuvichttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Lets-Talk-Science-Outreach-Program-at-UVic/184992718258949?ref=hlhttp://www.mondaymag.com/news/199261961.htmlhttp://www.uvic.ca/medsci/http://geography.uvic.ca/

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Victoria Native Friendship Centre: A new relationship has been formedwith the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. On April 10, LeahEllingwood and Lauren Whittaker gave their talk on AntibioticResistance as a part of the VNFCs monthly health seminars. On May 8our new coordinator, Dr. Anna Patten will be giving a talk at the Mayseminar on nutrition and the brain. We are hoping to continue with thesethroughout the summer with more medical students leading talks.

Scouts Canada:To further our reach into the community we offered visitsto local Scout groups. Our volunteers have gone on multiple visits to

Scout Club and Beavers meetings with our activity kits and have giventours of the UVic telescope. In the coming months we have more eventsplanned with local Beavers including two camps (Mythbusters and theBeaveree).

St. Margaret's School: Dr. Jain Gair, Coordinator for LTS UVic wascontacted by Mr. Pat Giommi, the Deputy Head at St. Margaret's schoolto discuss a possible STEM relationship between the two institutions.Well known for the strength of its math and science program, StMargaret's is hoping to increase the STEM experiences and activities fortheir students. Dr. Gair met with science and math teachers to organize apartnership that will be ongoing under the coordination of LTScoordinator, Dr. Anna Patten. It's an exciting opportunity for LTSvolunteers involved in the partnership and girls at St. Margaret's who wil l

have access to mentors in STEM fields and learn more about post-secondary education at the University of Victoria.

Students try out 'Brain caps' provided by Let's Talk Science

Upcoming Events

Summer is a busy season both on and offcampus. For latest information on upcoming

events please visit:http://www.letstalkscience.ca/uvic/upcoming-

events.html

Check out our national website to find outwhat's happening across Canada:

www.letstalkscience.ca

For more information regarding events, volunteer opportunities and office hours, please email: LTS@uvic.ca.

2013 UVic Let's Talk Science

mailto:supplies@ubclts.comhttp://www.letstalkscience.ca/http://www.letstalkscience.ca/uvic/upcoming-events.html