Government of Canada Investments Promote Science and Engineering to Canada's Youth

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Aug. 30, 2011) - Young Edmontonians will have additional opportunities to learn about science and engineering thanks to a new federal investment. The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) made the announcement while celebrating with the RiverWatch Institute of Alberta. Combining environmental science with rafting adventures, the organization teaches young students how to collect chemistry and biology data while doing field trips down their local rivers. The Honourable Tim Uppal, Minister of State (Democratic Reform) also took part in the celebratory announcement.

"Our government wants to encourage more young people to explore an education or career in science and engineering," said Minister of State Goodyear. "This program will give youth in communities across the country an opportunity to discover the benefits of these fields. In the long term, this will keep Canada's economy growing and create the jobs of the future."

On July 12, 2011, the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, announced that the Government of Canada will provide $2.9 million over three years to 58 organizations promoting science and engineering to young Canadians. Funding is provided through the PromoScience program of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The organizations include universities, non-governmental organizations, museums, science centres and other groups.

The RiverWatch Institute of Alberta is receiving $46,900 in funding over three years. Through its RiverWatch Science Program, science classes explore local rivers aboard rafts, learning along the way about ecosystems and the management and protection of water quality for the benefit of wildlife, safe drinking water and recreation.

"Fostering scientific discovery is central to NSERC's mandate," said NSERC President Suzanne Fortier. "These organizations play a vital role in promoting science to children and youth. They provide the spark that, in the right environment, will lead to a lifetime of creativity, generating new knowledge and the researchers of tomorrow."

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for all Canadians. The agency supports some 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. It promotes discovery by funding more than 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,500 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

A complete list of PromoScience recipients can be found on the NSERC website (www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca).