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BY TARA MADDEN
Public Relations Coordinator
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The Stories
They Tell
Volunteers check out rocks for children attending the
Edmonton clinic. |
Science & Technology Week 2004 has wrapped up and APEGGA’s
celebratory events met with great success throughout the province.
The week, which ran Oct. 8-17 this year, annually celebrates
and promotes scientists, researchers and technologists in
Alberta and encourages students to pursue careers in the sciences.
The Edmonton Rock & Fossil Clinic, Oct. 16 at the Odyssium,
attracted about 50 participants. The event had children and
adults bring their found rocks and fossils for identification
by professional geologists and university geology students.
APEGGA hosted a similar clinic in Canmore on Oct. 23. Held
at the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre, the event had
over 75 people braving the winter conditions to participate.
Also on hand was Greg Lynch, P.Geol., who gave two presentations
on the structural geology of the mountains. Visitors to the
museum were also able to participate in hands-on science activities
hosted by APEGGA volunteers and members.
Both rock and fossil clinics were hosted by Geoff Harding,
Geol.I.T. (see accompanying article). Geoff also hosted the
Calgary Science Network Pet Rock and Fossil Clinic at the
Crowfoot Library in Calgary on Oct. 23.
Hands-on mall science was also a popular event during Science
& Technology Week. APEGGA participated in the Calgary
Mall Science activities at Market Mall on Saturday, Oct. 16.
Between 300-500 people passed by the APEGGA table. Ten APEGGA
volunteers assisted the public with hands-on science activities.
In Edmonton, APEGGA members and volunteers offered fun,
hands-on science activities as part of the Chemical Institute
of Canada’s Mall Science Event. Science displays and
activities were set up at Sherwood Park Mall, Bonnie Doon
Mall, Southgate Centre Mall and West Edmonton Mall. At West
Edmonton Mall alone, over 500 people passed the displays.
Branches also got in on the fun. The Medicine Hat Branch
participated in the Defense Research & Development Canada
Lunchtime Challenge on Oct. 12. Held at Canadian Forces Base
Suffield over the lunch hour, DRDC staff competed in individual
and team science challenges.
The branch also hosted a display during the Praxis Family
Science Olympics. Held Oct. 16 at Medicine Hat High School,
the event offered 10 hands-on science challenges for family
teams.
APEGGA members in Grande Prairie hosted a fun night of hands-on
science challenges for families of St. Clement Catholic High
School on Oct. 14. Approximately 200 parents and children
were on hand for the science fun.
In Fort McMurray, APEGGA members assisted the Oil Sands
Discovery Centre in presenting a fun science day for families.
Held Oct. 16, the day consisted of displays, hands-on science
activities, science performers, a “geo-caching”
scavenger hunt, engineering challenges and more.
APEGGA members hosted a Library Science event at the Strathmore
Library on Oct. 23. Approximately 40 children took part in
the hands-on science activities.
This year’s Science & Technology Week website,
hosted by Alberta Innovation and Science, offers a variety
of contests and challenges for children, a calendar of upcoming
events, information about different scientific careers and
the popular Alberta Innovation documentary series first broadcast
on Global Television.
Visitors to the site will also be able to order a free copy
of a 2005 calendar featuring Alberta researchers and school
children involved in science. Check out the site at www.scitechweek.gov.ab.ca.
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