APEGA 2020 Annual Report

OUTREACH Tapping into students’ natural curiosity and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is what APEGA’s outreach events and programs are all about. Through immersive activities, we introduce inquisitive young minds to engineering and geoscience professions and encourage them to explore the exciting career possibilities in these fields. Many of the challenges our world faces—today and over the coming decades—will be solved by these future dreamers and creators.

Kindergarten to Grade 12

NSERC Grant We received a $250,000, three-year grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada PromoScience Program to develop and expand our STEM programs across Alberta. The funding will also enable us to respond to dynamic conditions so we can safely deliver our programs and events. We’ll expand the APEGA Science Olympics to larger venues in urban and rural communities across the province, enabling us to reach more students. When it’s safe to do so, we’ll expand our STEMester pilot project—which connects Grade 10 students to professional engineers and geoscientists—from one classroom to four. This will give more students the opportunity to work with professionals and visit field sites, makerspaces, and post-secondary institutions. We’ll grow our Teacher Professional Development Program, helping K–12 educators create curriculum-based engineering and geoscience activities for their classrooms.

Our commitment begins with our K-12 outreach initiatives, which aim to inspire a lifelong love of engineering and geoscience. We engage students in interactive, hands-on experiences that build their communication, teamwork, and critical- thinking skills. Before schools closed in March, APEGA’s Edmonton Science Olympics reached a new milestone in February with 225 teams taking part, an increase of 29 teams from 2019. Our annual Rock & Fossil Clinic, which introduces children to geoscience, was held virtually for the first time. Professional geoscientists and university geoscience students shared their passion for geology with more than 1,000 online attendees. Universities Preparing university students to become successful engineering and geoscience professionals requires more than classroom learning. APEGA hosts networking mixers and professional development events to give undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to meet experienced APEGA professionals and get expert advice on everything from résumé writing to job-interview techniques. We also hold ethics workshops for graduating students to help them understand the regulatory responsibilities and requirements of becoming licensed APEGA members.

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