Let’s Talk Science (French: Parlons sciences) is a registered Canadian charitable organization focused on education and skills development for children and youth in Canada through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) based programs. Founded in London, Ontario in 1993, the head office remains in London, ON and there are two regional offices in Calgary, AB and St. John’s, NL. Dr. Bonnie Schmidt is the president and founder of Let's Talk Science.
History
Let’s Talk Science was founded in 1993 by Bonnie Schmidt, the current president, with contributions from Joan Francolini and the Lawson Foundation. While completing a Ph.D. in Physiology at the University of Western Ontario, Schmidt visited local classrooms with some of her fellow graduate students, bringing them hands-on science activities and presentations. The aim was to promote an interest in STEM from an early age and to help children and youth build inquiry-based skills.
The outreach program continues to grow with Let's Talk Science Outreach operating at 53 post-secondary schools from coast-to-coast-to-coast:
1991: Western University (as "Let's Talk Physiology") 1993: University of Ottawa, Queen's University 1995: University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University 1996: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1997: University of British Columbia, McMaster University, University of Toronto (St. George campus), University of Guelph 1998: McGill University, University of Alberta, University of Winnipeg 2000: Dalhousie University, University of Manitoba 2001: University of Calgary, Carleton University and the Mississauga campus of the University of Toronto. 2004: Scarborough campus of The University of Toronto, University of New Brunswick, University of Saskatchewan 2005: Cambrian College signs on as the first Let's Talk Science Outreach college partner. 2005: Laurentian University 2008: York University, Université du Québec à Montréal, University of Waterloo 2009: Fleming College, Confederation College, University of PEI 2010: Cape Breton University, University of New Brunswick in St. John, Lethbridge University, Université de Sherbrooke. 2011: Concordia University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Fanshawe College 2012: Memorial University of Newfoundland Grenfell campus, Mount Allison University 2013: University of Windsor, Loyalist College 2014: Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) 2015: Université de Moncton, Brock University 2016: Brandon University, Lakehead University in Orillia and Thunder Bay, 2017: University of the Fraser Valley and University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, First Nations University of Canada, Aurora Research Institute- Western Arctic Research Centre 2018: Université du Québec à Chicoutimi 2019: Aurora Research Institute- South Slave Research Centre 2020: Vancouver Island University 2021: Trent University, Aurora Research Institute- North Slave Research Centre, Université du Québec à Rimouski 2022: Anishnabeg Outreach
Contributions made by volunteers have diversified into classroom activities, lab tours, science fair judging, the Let’s Talk Science Challenge, and the development of online resources. Let’s Talk Science now offers professional learning opportunities for educators, online resources for youth and educators, in addition to the outreach that still goes on in classrooms, virtually, and at community events across the country. Since 1993, Let’s Talk Science has impacted more than 9.5 million Canadian youth.
Programming
Let’s Talk Science Outreach
A national program that connects educators and youth with trained post-secondary volunteers at over 50 Let’s Talk Science Outreach sites. Trained volunteers engage children from early years to Grade 12 in a variety of curriculum-aligned, hands-on STEM activities both virtually and in-person. Visits are offered in English and French (location dependent) and are customizable and flexible for classrooms, community groups, libraries, summer camps and after-school programs.
Online Educational Resources
Let's Talk Science's website has a collection of curriculum-aligned STEM resources—lesson ideas, learning strategies, backgrounders, informative articles and career profiles in English and French.