Government of Canada Invests in Youth With Science Promotion Grants

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 20, 2013) - The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced that thirty-seven organizations across Canada will receive $2.7 million in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through its PromoScience Program. Recipients include universities, interpretive and science centres, and wetland and conservation organizations, among others.

"Our Government supports organizations that promote, and offer science and technology learning experiences to young Canadians," said Minister of State Goodyear. "The hands-on activities provided by today's recipients instill the importance of science in young people's lives and futures, inspiring them to consider careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

PromoScience offers financial support to a wide variety of non-profit organizations that motivate youth to take an interest in science at an early age. Through the work of these organizations, budding scientists and young learners are exposed to scientific methods, meet role models and develop valuable critical thinking skills.

"The organizations receiving PromoScience funding today are key to influencing the next generations of Canadian scientists, engineers and mathematicians," said Janet Walden, Chief Operating Officer of NSERC. "Increasing young girls' and boys' interest and skills in science and engineering at an early age, especially in communities that are traditionally under-represented in scientific and engineering careers, fosters the researchers and innovators of tomorrow."

NSERC is a federal agency that helps make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators. The agency supports almost 30,000 post-secondary students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding approximately 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging over 2,400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in post-secondary research projects.

A complete list of the 2012 PromoScience recipients can be found on NSERC's Web site.