Government of Canada Funding Encourages Youth to Pursue Careers in Science

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 7, 2012) - Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics will encourage even more young people to pursue studies in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through its BrainSTEM outreach program, thanks to a Government of Canada investment of more than $1.7 million. The investment was announced today by Peter Braid, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Waterloo, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

"By introducing students to the STEM fields at this critical point in their education, we are encouraging the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and problem solvers, and helping to drive innovation in southern Ontario for years to come," said MP Braid. "This is how we will establish competitive businesses, and create the high-value jobs of the future and long-term prosperity for the region."

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics works to advance the understanding of physical laws and develop new ideas that can help science and technology progress. The Institute also provides research training and educational outreach activities that foster scientific talent in students. It will use the investment to enhance its educational outreach program with BrainSTEM content, targeting grade 10 youth and reaching 1.6 million students, teachers and families throughout southern Ontario with lessons that focus on critical thinking, careers and entrepreneurship in the STEM fields.

"The delivery of this outreach program will debunk misconceptions about STEM careers, and provide opportunities for students to make connections between crucial life skills - like creativity, problem solving and collaboration - and the STEM subjects available to them in Canadian schools," said Greg Dick, Perimeter Director of Educational Outreach. "The enhanced outreach activities will help show young people that there are emerging and valuable careers available in the STEM subjects, and will help to build a future talent pool in these fields in southern Ontario."

The investment through FedDev Ontario's Youth STEM initiative is one of the ways the Government of Canada is working to drive growth and job creation in southern Ontario through fostering innovation.

For more information on Youth STEM and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, please refer to the backgrounder.

Created in 2009, FedDev Ontario supports the southern Ontario economy by building on the region's strengths and creating opportunities for jobs and economic growth. The Agency has launched a number of initiatives to create a Southern Ontario Advantage and place the region in a strong position to compete in the global economy. These initiatives are designed to encourage partnerships and support projects that help the region's businesses and communities become more competitive, innovative and diversified. To learn more, please visit www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.

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Backgrounder

Contribution to Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the BrainSTEM Outreach Program

Located in Waterloo, Ontario, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics is a not-for-profit, scientific research organization that focuses on theoretical physics. Founded in 1999, the Institute works to advance the understanding of physical laws and develop new ideas about the essence of space, time, matter, and information. The Institute also offers a variety of scientific and educational outreach activities that foster scientific talent in young people.

The Institute's current suite of youth outreach activities include a monthly public lecture series, a summer camp, a series of in-class resources, professional development workshops for science teachers and science festivals.

Perimeter Institute is seeking to expand and enhance its existing suite of outreach programs through an approach that incorporates multiple formats, and aims to reach youth, teachers and parents throughout southern Ontario with high impact content. The new content and outreach will focus on showing the benefits of the STEM areas as these fields relate to the future careers and entrepreneurship possibilities for young people.

Through the Youth STEM initiative, FedDev Ontario is investing up to $1,730,000 to help the Institute expand its BrainSTEM program for grade 10 students, providing an integrated approach that will include in-class modules, teacher training, the development of public service announcements, increased online resources and a summit linking digital media, science, and education for content creators.

More information about Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics is available at www.perimeterinstitute.ca.

Youth STEM Initiative

FedDev Ontario's Youth STEM provides funding to eligible not-for-profit organizations to expand, enhance and coordinate the reach and impact of educational outreach programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for children and youth in kindergarten through grade 12. The initiative is designed to encourage young people to pursue further studies and careers in these fields, creating a future talent pool that is well-positioned to fuel business innovation and growth in southern Ontario.

For more information, please refer to the program information available on the FedDev Ontario website at www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca.