Ontario Youth for STEM Council

An Ontario Student Council consisting of High School Students for High School Students!

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Destination Imagination — STEAM Challenges

Destination Imagination is open to all kindergarten through university level students worldwide. Work together with a team to develop a solution to the Challenge. Learn new skills, explore your passions, discover unique talents and abilities, and have fun with your team in a competition against other teams!

IMPORTANT NOTE

All of the information listed below can also be read from the official website’s page on the competition. Please visit: https://www.destinationimagination.org/challenge-program/ and Ontario’s official DI website: https://www.diontario.org/home.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS FOR A TEAM? HOW CAN WE PARTICIPATE?

Students form teams of up to 7 members and select their preferred Challenge. They need at least one Team Manager, which can be a parent or a teacher! The Team Manager keeps the team on track but doesn’t help with what the team is working on.

With your team and team manager, visit the Ontario’s Destination Imagination page on how to get started: https://www.diontario.org/copy-of-let-s-get-started.

If you study at a school, suggest starting an after-school program of Destination Imagination. If you study elsewhere, you can still participate with a parent and a team as an extracurricular.

Then, use the resources provided on the website in order to work on your solution to your selected Challenge.

WHERE DOES THIS TAKE PLACE?

Within Ontario, there is the Ontario Provincial Tournament. Please visit this page: https://www.diontario.org/ for more information.

WHEN DOES THIS CHALLENGE TAKE PLACE?

There are seasons to this Challenge which take place during the school year. The time span is 2-4 months.

You need to register your Team under a Team Number starting on August 2021.

According to the website, “if teams qualify at their regional and state/country level tournaments, they are invited to showcase at Global Finals [...] in May.”

The registration for the Ontario Provincial Tournament starts September 2021.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

Please visit: https://www.destinationimagination.org/challenge-program/ and Ontario’s official DI website: https://www.diontario.org/home.

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Science Al!ve — AI expertise, community, and mentorship to young women in Grades 10-11

Science AL!VE offers a Virtual Summer Academy AI Scholars Program to female students in grades 10-11, from across Canada. As a participant, you will be able to explore the world of AI through team projects, and connect with mentors and industry experts in a supportive yet challenging environment!

The program will happen on July 19th to July 30th, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Pacific Standard Time! The program fee is $500.

If you are interested in learning more, or registering for the program, please visit their page at https://sciencealive.ca/highschool!

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Science AL!VE — Volunteer as a Teen Mentor in Science Camps!

Science AL!VE is an outreach program dedicated to sparking passion for science and engineering! They engage in STEAM (STEM and Arts & design) programs to build measurable kills and improve self-confidence.

They currently offer summer camps, weekend clubs, and online workshops for students!

Would you like to support Science Al!ve’s initiatives as a high school volunteer? Consider applying through their online form at https://sciencealive.ca/volunteer-opportunities-1. Please note that there are different periods for recruiting volunteers!

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CIHR Canada National Brain Bee

The Brain Bee is a competition for high school students from grades 9-12 that tests the participants’ knowledge about the brain and neuroscience research. Topics that are covered include memory, sleep, intelligence, motion, perception, stress, aging, brain imaging, neurology, neurotransmitters, and more! The first place champion of each local brain bee will go on to represent Canada at the National and International Brain Bees.

It is an exciting opportunity to learn about the brain and the importance of brain research, and you will have the opportunity to visit the university and meet the students and professors who are doing brain research! According to the website, “many brain bee competitors choose careers in medicine or neuroscience because of their experience as high school competitors in the Brain Bee.”

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE? AM I ELIGIBLE?

If you are a high school student in Canada, in grades 9-12, who would like to participate, you are eligible! In order to participate, you need to find a Local Brain Bee near you. Currently, in Ontario, the available locations are:

Guelph

Hamilton

Kingston

London

Ottawa

Toronto

Waterloo

Windsor

There are also other locations in Canada. You can access the list of local brain bees on the Canadian Brain Bee website: https://brainbee.ca/.

Live in a place that is not close enough to the locations listed? There is a page with information on how to start your own local brain bee! https://brainbee.ca/organizers/how-to-start-your-own-local-brain-bee/.

According to the website, “the organization of each local brain bee is unique, so it is best to contact the organizer to find out about location, competition dates, and registration details.”

There are also different dates, rules and regulations across the different local brain bee locations. Make sure you check the page for each specific brain bee for specific information.

HOW DO I REGISTER FOR THE COMPETITION?

For the local brain bee of your choice, there is a registration link added. Follow their specific instructions from there.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR THE LOCAL BRAIN BEE?

The website suggests to “check with your local brain bee organizers regarding study resources.”

They suggest the book “Neuroscience: Science of the Brain” by the European Dana Alliance for the Brain.

For more information on resources, please visit their page at: https://brainbee.ca/students/who-can-compete/.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

Please visit the Canadian National Brain Bee for any specific information you would like to know! https://brainbee.ca/

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CAGIS - Girls in Science

The Canadian Association for Girls in Science (CAGIS) is club for girls/non-binary people aged 7-16 that supports interest in STEM! They have chapters that organize monthly events and meetings to hold fun STEM activities which cover a variety of STEM fields, from robotics & coding to the physics of figure skating.

As a female/nonbinary student aged 13-17 interested in STEM in Canada, you have the chance to be a leader through CAGIS’ Teen Ambassadors Program! You will have the opportunity to participate in virtual events, attend periodic meetings to share thoughts, be a role model among young peers, meet and interact with STEM experts, and count volunteer hours toward requirements in your jurisdiction!

If you would like to find out more, visit CAGIS’ Teen Ambassadors Program page at https://girlsinscience.ca/teen-ambassadors-program/.

→ Want to learn more about STEM opportunities in Ontario or Canada? Please visit our page at oyscouncil.tumblr.com or consider following us! ⚙️

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COMC—A Chance to Test your Math Skills Competitively!

Are you really passionate about high school math? Would you like to challenge yourself? The Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge (COMC) is a Canadian mathematics competition open to any student with an interest in high school math! It encourages students to explore, discover, and learn more about mathematics and problem solving.

Additionally, anyone writing the COMC in Canada is eligible for a random draw participation prize!

80 top-ranking students from the COMC and CMOQR will be invited to write the Canadian Mathematical Olympiad! Participants have the chance to compete in the Math Team Canada to travel to, and compete in, the IMO! As a female contestant you also have the chance to also participate in the Girls’ Math Team Canada to represent Canada at the EGMO.

WHAT ARE THE TERMS THAT I SHOULD KNOW?

COMC: Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge. Anyone can participate in this contest.

CMOQR: Canadian Mathematical Olympiad Qualifying Repêchage.

CMO: Candaian Mathematics Olympiad. You must get an invitation either by…:

Qualifying as one of the top 50 scorers of the COMC

Qualifying as the top 50-75 scorers, who must take the CMOQR before being eligible to take the CMO.

IMO: International Mathematics Olympiad.

EGMO: European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad.

I DO NOT GO TO A TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL. CAN I STILL PARTICIPATE?

Yes! Any student who has an interest and grasp on high school math can participate!

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Share your interest to your teacher or equivalent.

According to the website, “all registrations must come from schools, through teachers or proctors). Individual students (and their parents) may ask any nearby school if they are participating in the COMC and if they are willing to add an exam in order to have the student participate at the school on exam day.”

You will need to make sure that at least two participants are going to write the COMC.

They will be responsible for logging into the COMC page on the Canadian Mathematical Society’s website.

If your school is already registered, they will log into an existing school account.

If your teacher needs to create a new school account, visit the following page: https://www2.cms.math.ca/contests/comc2020/newschool/.

Note: before you can register and qualify as an official participant, you must meet the official Eligibility requirements. According to the COMC FAQ page, this “includes writing the exam at an Official Competition Writing Centre (OCWC). You can access the official eligibility requirements here (or access the page on their FAQ page): https://www2.cms.math.ca/Competitions/COMC/2020/eligibility.html

On the account, teachers must place an exam order.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR THE COMC EXAM?

There are multiple ways to go about preparing for a math contest! However, it is highly recommended to take past papers and exams from other math competitions to get comfortable with the kinds of questions asked on the exam. Once you feel like you have a grasp and are approaching the date of the exam, time yourself as you take practice exams.

The COMC offers a COMC Problem of the Week, and you can access the old 2020 questions for practice.

Official preparation pages include:

The COMC Official Page: https://www2.cms.math.ca/Competitions/COMC/2020/

The CMOQR Preparation Page: https://cms.math.ca/competitions/repechage/

Other great resources for learning math at a deeper level and improving your problem-solving skills include:

(Book) The Art of Problem Solving: Volume 1: The Basics

(Book) The Art of Problem Solving: Introduction to Geometry

(Book) The Art of Problem Solving: Introduction to Counting & Probability

(Book) The Art of Problem Solving: Volume 2: And Beyond

There are also a lot of great resources from the AoPS website for preparing for math contests and olympiads: https://artofproblemsolving.com/resources.

If you would like to pay for preparation courses, there AoPS also offers AMC 10 Problem Series, which offers preparation for the first test in the series of contents that determine the United States team for the IMO. Here is their page: https://artofproblemsolving.com/school/course/maa-amc10.

Here is a page for AMC resources: https://www.maa.org/math-competitions/amc-resources.

Practice exams and resources:

The Math League: https://mathleague.com/

CEMC: https://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/past_contests.html

CEMC Contest Preparation: https://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/preparation.html

BCSS Math Contest: http://mathcontest.sites.tru.ca/#

APMO: https://cms.math.ca/competitions/apmo/

Practice exams for other American contests:

AMC 8: https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/AMC_8_Problems_and_Solutions

AMC 10: https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/AMC_10_Problems_and_Solutions

AMC 12: https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/AMC_12_Problems_and_Solutions

AIME: https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/AIME_Problems_and_Solutions

Mandelbrot Competition: http://www.mandelbrot.org/

HMMT (https://www.hmmt.org/) and PuMAC (https://pumac.princeton.edu/#index). The easiest questions are good preparation for the hardest AMC questions.

American Regions Mathematics League (https://www.arml.com/ARML/arml_2019/page/index.php)

You can also find guides online that can set up a guide for your studying and provide tips on doing well:

How to Study for the Math Olympiad: AMC 10/AMC 12 (Similar to the COMC) https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-study-for-the-math-olympiad-amc-10/amc-12

Advice about Writing the COMC (University of Manitoba): https://server.math.umanitoba.ca/~craigen/manitobamathletics/advice/COMCadvice

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

If you have any other questions about the COMC, please visit their FAQ page: https://www2.cms.math.ca/Competitions/COMC/2020/faq.html, or visit the main COMC page: https://www2.cms.math.ca/Competitions/COMC/2020/#main.

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Sanofi Biogenius Competition Canada - Work on Groundbreaking Biotech Research!

Would you like to participate in a project focusing on Biotechnology as a high school student in Canada, with the opportunity to work in professional labs with mentors who are leaders in their fields? Would you like to work in a fun real-life competitive setting to test your presentation skills?

Consider applying to pursue a real-life project to gain real-life experience, a network outside of the classroom, and a better idea of what you would like to pursue after high school! Some examples of previous projects done by high school students include cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, etc.

HOW CAN I APPLY?

Visit their website at https://biogenius.ca/biogenius-programs/ and register for the SANOFI BIOGENIUS COMPETITION.

Currently, the acceptances are closed. When registration is open, you will need to apply early, as spots are limited!

WHAT DO I DO AFTER THIS?

For guidance on how to start your project, visit the “How to Compete” tab under the “Competition for Students” section on the navigation bar of the website. Each page will walk you through how to start working on your project.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A MENTOR?

Currently this year, mentors can be met virtually. This eliminates the geographical hurdle that can exist if you live somewhere in Canada where you cannot easily meet someone!

This link is the current link with information on how to apply for a mentor: https://biogenius.ca/how-to-compete/working-with-a-mentor/.

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT LIKE?

According to the website, you should expect to dedicate an average of 10 hours per week between the months of November and March working on your exciting project! They highly recommend strong time-management skills in order to balance your time spent on the competition and your personal life.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

If you have any other questions, consider reading the specific details on their website, beginning with the FAQ page: https://biogenius.ca/faqs/.

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@math_together - Encouraging Math to Be A Fun Family Activity! (Gr 4-12)

@math_together on instagram is an initiative that aims to encourage math to be a fun family activity for students in grades 4-12! It was started by Rinku, a University of Toronto Biostatistics Professor and mom who posts fun math word problems, followed by video solutions that help you understand math at a deeper level.

As a high school student in Ontario, are you interested in challenging yourself to fun math problems? Would you like to bring problem solving to your family as a fun activity to do together?

Consider following @math_together!

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InteGIRLS Toronto - Female + NonBinary Spring 2021 Math Competition!

@integirls.toronto on instagram is a math and STEM community for female and non-binary students. They hope to host math competitions and events in the GTA exclusive to girls and non-binary individuals to help bridge the STEM gap in the industry and provide a safe space for girls and non-binary individuals to grow!

They are currently holding sign ups for their Canada-wide Spring 2021 Math Competition! This is a math competition that will be held virtually through Zoom on April 24 2021 starting from 12:30 PM EST. The cost of the competition is completely free!

If you would like to learn more, visit their website at https://toronto.integirls.org/! 

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Enter Into the World of Web Development with 0 knowledge for free - Resource for High School Students

The Odin Project is a completely free project aimed to teach absolute beginners about the world of web development! Interested in learning HTML, CSS, Javascript, Ruby, Java, and more? Interested in learning about how the web works, how websites are built, or the programming in the background that keep websites running? Then the Odin Project is the right website for you!

WHERE CAN I ACCESS THIS LEARNING RESOURCE?

Visit their website at https://www.theodinproject.com/dashboard!

HOW CAN THIS WEBSITE HELP BOOST MY RESUME AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT?

The Odin Project gives you the benefit of teaching you full stack development (both front-end and back-end web development).

In terms of certificates, there are none. The Odin Project explains this in their FAQ response (from their FAQ page):

We don't provide a certificate for course completion. Employers will be much more impressed with your amazing personal portfolio of projects, many of which you'll hopefully have built with inspiration from The Odin Project.

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Visions of Science - Volunteering, Leadership, Connections!

WHAT IS VISIONS OF SCIENCE?

Visions of Science Network for Learning Inc. — VoSNL or Visions of Science for short, is an organization that “aims to advance the educational achievements and positive development of youth from low-income and marginalized communities through meaningful engagement in [STEM] fields and research”!

They offer beneficial mentorship and volunteering opportunities for high school students to help with their mission to deliver STEM enrichment to low-income youth. Their STEM Leaders program particularly offers a gateway to the world of STEM, from connections to professionals, research, and internships, and much more!

The locations that they offer include Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, and Peel.

If you would like to learn more about VoSNL’s mission and team, please visit their page!

HOW CAN I BENEFIT AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN ONTARIO?

You can become a STEM Community Leader, and have the opportunity to work as a volunteer as a high school student.  

For their programs, priority is given to children/youth who live directly within the low-income community, though they are open to everyone in the community.

Want to be inspired by the stories of youth who have benefited from Visions of Science? Visit their youth column page!

WHAT IS VoSNL’S STEM LEADERS PROGRAM?

This is a program targeted towards youth from ages 13 to 18, and “provides youth with advanced and immersive STEM-based experimental learning opportunities directed towards the pursuit of postsecondary education and enhanced career aspirations.”

The program promotes four main pillars in the participants of the program:

Experimental S.T.E.M. Learning

Community Engagement

Career Development

Leadership

They expose the participants to professionals in the STEM fields, research and other STEM opportunities to build a strong C.V., and other opportunities that will leave members feeling confident with their future in STEM overall.

There are four different terms to this program:

Term 1: Summer (July-August)

Term 2: Fall (October-December)

Term 3: Winter (January-May)

Interested in a trailer that goes into further detail? Please visit here!

If you’re interested in applying, consider filling out the interest form on STEAM Leaders page!

On this page, a youth shares her experience with the STEM leaders program!

HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER AT VISIONS OF SCIENCE?

NOTE: According VoSNL’s page, “in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19, all programs and volunteer opportunities are being offered virtually.”

At Visions of Science, the main opportunity for volunteering is within their STEM Clubs program, though there are also other opportunities available! During the COVID-19 pandemic, these opportunities will be limited.

Applicants in high school are welcome to apply and will be considered based on the strength of their application.

This volunteering position is different from their STEM Leaders Program!

Commitment for STEM Clubs program:

Every Saturday (with the exception of holidays) from 10:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M.* virtually.

Check the website for the specific dates.

Event volunteers can also help out in the Events & Initiatives that Visions of Science holds, including...

Visionary Gala

Visionary Expo a the OSC (Ontario Science Centre)

Strikes for STEM Bowl-A-Thon

Many more!

Community outreach volunteers help spreading STEM into the community, including the following initiatives:

Science Literacy Week

Science Odyssey

Pop-up community workshops

Hands-on STEM experiments

Distributing information about the programs offered by Visions of Science

If you would like to learn more about the opportunities available for volunteering with Visions of Science, please visit their volunteering page!

If you would like to apply, this option is also available on their volunteering page!

To read more about the volunteering opportunities and how to connect as a volunteer, please visit their Better Impact page!

HOW CAN I BENEFIT FROM BEING A VOLUNTEER?

According to their volunteering page, you will...

Be able to give back to the community and help engage youth in positive learning environments

Work in a team to deliver STEM workshops, outreach, activities

Receive training in STEM curriculum

Develop leadership, facilitation and teaching, teamwork and collaboration, communication,, community engagement, and development and research!

Again, if you would like to apply, this option is also available on their volunteering page!

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Innomasters - EWB’s youth engagement

Engineering Without Borders runs Youth Engagement programs to provide to high school students opportunities to learn and develop STEM and leadership skills. We’ll be talking about their Innomasters program:

a mentorship that focuses on utilizing the design process.

Other programs they offer are EWBeyond, SCYLC, and an Environmental Program, which we’ll cover in later posts.

WHAT IS INNOMASTERS? WHAT DO I DO, AND WHAT IS THE MAIN GOAL?

A mentorship program aimed for high school students, who are paired with mentors from their chapter of EWB, at a university. For example, in Ontario, there is the EWB U of T, in which UofT students are the mentors.

As of right now, there is only information about the UofT Chapter holding this event. Visit their website here if you would like to know more information.

The high school students who are registered are placed into design teams. They work on a design project together, and at the end of the program, there is a showcase.

As a team, you can choose a problem to tackle and develop a project to address this issue. In the program, you will be learning engineering problem solving, and learn the development of prototypes! As a participant, here are a few more things you can expect to learn:

Research

Professional proposals-writing

How to make interactive presentations

Engineering through a first-year engineering design courses approach

Design

To check a more specific list of what the program will cover in order to teach students, please visit their website! 

AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE SHOWCASE?

You will have until the end of the program to present your solutions in a showcase, and to a panel of judges. According to the University of Toronto’s EWB Chapter, “the best performing team, throughout the program, will receive a special prize!”

IS THERE A PARTICIPATION FEE?

There are no participation fees!

WHERE AND WHEN DOES THIS PROGRAM TAKE PLACE?

Currently, this program takes place at the University of Toronto Chapter for EWB. The dates can change each year, so it is useful to check on the website any important dates for this program!

If you would like to check this information, please visit their website!

Here is the timeline for the 2021 program:

November — December (2020): sign up for Innomasters!

January 16, 2021: Workshop 1

January 30, 2021: Workshop 2

February 13, 2021: Workshop 3

February 28, 2021: Workshop 4

March 13, 2021: Workshop 5

March 27/28, 2021: Final Showcase.

HOW DO I REGISTER?

There will be a link for students in on the Innomasters page for the University of Toronto’s Chapter. https://ewbuoftyouth.weebly.com/innomasters.html.

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Free Coding Curriculum: freeCodeCamp

Are you a beginner when it comes to coding? Does your high school lack a computer science/programming class? Want to get a headstart in the process of learning how to code, or have you decided your passions in programming in general a little “too late”?

If any of the above is true, there is a free solution on the web called freeCodeCamp! They are a non-profit community aiming to provide absolutely free coding education. They offer 11 different certifications that you receive after completing their curriculum, and they are free as well.

HOW DOES IT WORK? WHERE DO I START?

Make a free account. Once, you make a free account, you’ll be able to access their eleven certificates. Depending on your skill level, you can choose a certification that you would like to work towards!

Choose a certification. freeCodeCamp recommends to start at the absolute beginning with the “Responsive Web Design Certification” if you are a complete beginner to programming, and complete the certifications in order.

Work through the curriculum. After choosing your certification to work towards, are list of courses in order are shown to you. Expanding them and clicking on the first lesson will direct you to your lessons, where they teach you about the language that you are learning and that will help you to build a project.

Around 300 hours is needed in order to complete each of the tasks and projects for your certification.

Earn your certification. At the end of the courses, there is a final section where you will build projects using the skills you’ve learned throughout the curriculum. Once you’ve completed these, you will obtain your certification!

If you feel stuck...if you ever feel stuck, the freeCodeCamp forum offers help for whatever you’re struggling with in regards to programming: https://forum.freecodecamp.org.

CAN I GET A JOB USING THESE CERTIFICATES?

Yes! According to the website,

Every year, thousands of people who join the freeCodeCamp community get their first software developer job. If you're curious, you can browse our alumni network on LinkedIn here.

If you have more questions about freeCodeCamp in general, you can visit their FAQ page.

As a high school student, you can use these certificates to give you an introduction into the programming world, prepare yourself for a degree in college or university that requires programming, or as an extracurricular/hobby! 

ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT freeCodeCamp OFFERS?

Yes! freeCodeCamp offers challenges to get people motivated to accomplish or learn as much as they can in a limited amount of days. For example, the #100DaysOfCode. Set a goal to learn code for x amount of hours or even minutes per day, for 100 days.

There are often communities online where you can talk to others who are taking part in the same challenge, such as on Glitter or Discord.

Challenge your friends or the members at your high school by starting your own challenge!

They also offer a youtube channel and a podcast for learning code on the go.

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SCWIST - Happy Women’s History Month!

Are you a female or nonbinary high school student in Canada who would like to participate in exciting STEM workshops, programs, conferences, and receive awards for STEM and Science Fair projects? Are you an indigenous student or student belonging to Northern BC or rural communities? Would you like to find more ways to get involved into the science industry? Read our article to learn more about SCWIST’s youth support programs and awards!

WHAT IS IT?

The Society for Candian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) is a society with the vision to “create an environment where women and girls in Canada can pursue their interest, education, and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) without barriers.” They aim to provide activities, mentorship, and leadership that encourages women and girls to accomplish their dreams, to create inclusion, connection to professional networks, and more!

DO I NEED TO BE A GIRL/FEMALE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE YOUTH OUTREACH?

SCWIST is inclusive to other gender identities as well! SCWIST says:

Please note that we use the terms women and girls with a broad meaning that includes people who identify themselves as women, girls, trans, gender queer, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender questioning.

CAN I BENEFIT AS AN INDIGENOUS FEMALE STUDENT?

Yes! Along with all the other outreach programs listed below this section, there are two opportunities aimed specifically towards the indigenous community.

Become a Marine Biologist in Training! If you are an indigenous youth aged 10-14, learn what it’s like to be a Marine Biologist virtually on a 5-day online after school camp. The participants will be able to... “learn about he scientific method, the cool critters that live in our oceans, and the exciting work that marine scientists do.“ Additionally, you’ll be able to be exposed to role models—professionals in marine STEAM fields! If you would like to learn more, visit the following link: https://seasmartschool.com/mbit-scwist

Indigenous Youth Skills Award: (See below for more information about all awards and scholarships offered by the SCWIST!) SCWIST also offers an award to the Indigenous community known as the Indigenous Youth Skills Award. If you are a student from this community, and are exploring STEM fields through a project or by starting a science/math club at school, you may be a candidate for this award!

If you would like to participate, visit the award’s page: https://scwist.ca/programs/ms-infinity/youth-skills-development-scholarships/. You will need to attach a brief biography and description of your proposal to the given addresses. Good luck!

HOW CAN I BENEFIT OR TAKE PART AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN ONTARIO?

The SCWIST offers many youth support for canadian female students, which we will show you below. There are two categories for the outreach aimed at students such as yourself: outreach programs, and youth skills development scholarships. SCWIST scholarships are offered to students in higher education and will not be covered in this article.

WHAT YOUTH ENGAGEMENT DOES SCWIST OFFER?

The SCWIST team has launched the ms infinity (math and science = infinite options) programs to introduce girls to “a wide range of exciting career options and positive female role models in STEM”! The programs that they offer are:

eMentoring program: If you would like to be in touch with a professional woman in a STEM career who is closely matched to your own interests for career advice, mentorship, and guidance? This program is for you.

According to SCWIST,

“You’ll connect over email or Skype over a six-week period, and your mentor will be available to you for around an hour per week. You’ll discover the rewards of careers in STEM and get helpful advice from a professional on different career paths, finances, work life balance, and more.”

($500 Grant) Quantum Leap Conferences: these conferences are aimed to “inspire students to consider STEM careers—including the exciting, uncommon careers.” You can experience fun workshops, motivating keynote speeches from women working in STEM careers, etc. If you would like to host a STEM-focused conference at your school available in-person and online, apply or contact an ms. infinity coordinator.

APPLY NOW ➡️ https://scwist.ca/forms/quantum-leaps-application/

You can also contact an ms. infinity coordinator. Please visit their page for contact information!

Interactive Workshops: Aimed to high school students in all grades! These workshops show you how real hands-on science is done. 

According to SCWIST, 

“your presenters could include a neuroscientist, a stem cell researcher, a software developer, a mechanical engineer, or a physicist!”

APPLY NOW ➡️ Ask your teacher, school, or leader to contact an ms. infinity coordinator to create a workshop that’s right for your group! Please visit their page for contact information.

Northern BC Youth Engagement Program: “We want to reach you, wherever you are!” In this program, SCWIST is reaching out to girls in rural communities and northern areas of British Columbia. Currently, they are learning more about how they can help, inspire, and support women and girls in these communities. 

If this applies to you, you might be interested in contacting the ms infinity team coordinator. Please visit their page for contact information!

WHAT ARE THE YOUTH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS?

SCWIST offers youth scholarships in two cycles, each covering a 6-month period of programming. To find the specific dates, please visit their page!

The awards offered by SCWIST are the following (to learn each award in detail, please visit their page!

($1000) Youth Leadership Award: Open to female students in grades 10-12. Win an award by designing STEM project that requires approximately 60 hours (or two weeks) worth of work. This project is aimed to promote careers in STEM! Think of innovative ways to get people thinking about careers in stem, such as youtube videos, card games, and more!

APPLY NOW ➡️ https://scwist.ca/forms/youth-leadership-award-application-form/

($500) Youth Skills Development Scholarship: Open to girls and young women, ages 16-21. The requirement for this project is that you must have participated in SCWIST’S Quantum Leaps Conferences or eMentoring. It is awarded to and must cover the costs of professional development, attending Science Fair, or participating in STEM-related camps or courses.

APPLY NOW ➡️ https://scwist.ca/forms/youth-skills-development-scholarship/

($100) SCWIST Science Fair Award: Open to female students in grades 8-10 who are participating in their region’s science fair. This cash award is given to a winner at each of the 14 district Science Fairs for a project demonstrating curiosity, ingenuity, and innovation.

Learn more about your region’s science fair ➡️ https://www.sciencefairs.ca/science-fairs/

APPLICATION ➡️ You have the chance to be awarded this award at your region’s science fair.

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Asadi-Lari Interdisciplinary Contest—Prepare For a Career in STEM!

WHAT IS THE ALIC?

Hosted by STEM Fellowship, the ALIC is a way to test your knowledge of the fundamental concepts in physics, biology, chemistry, and mathematics! This interdisciplinary contest will consist of 30 questions, and the critical thinking required will emphasize the connection between various strands of science and math. The top three participants will be broadcast on STEM Fellowship’s social media, and the top 10% of participants will receive certificates!

WHEN IS IT TAKING PLACE?

The Asadi-Lari Interdisciplinary Contest is being held on Wednesday, March 31st, 2021! The contest will be available on an online server for the entire 24 hours, however you will only have 90 minutes to complete it once begun.

HOW CAN I SIGN UP?

Fill out the Google Form here and you’ll be set! The deadline for registration is Wednesday, March 24th, so don’t miss out!

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?

Check out more information on the STEM Fellowship website here! Good luck on the contest, and happy studying!

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Canadian Biology Olympiad—Test your Biology Skills Competitively!

WHAT IS THE CANADIAN BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD?

The Canadian Biology Olympiad is an organization involved in the selection of four students talented in the filed of biological sciences to represent Canada at the International Biology Olympiad. The CBO tests you on lab and theoretical skills.

If you want a challenge in biology at the high school level, this is the contest for you!

HOW DOES THE OLYMPIAD WORK?

The competition is split into two parts or rounds:

Round 1/Part A: A portfolio, showcasing your laboratory skills in biology.

Round 2/Part B: The University of Toronto National Biology Competition, to test your theoretical skills.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS COMPETITION?

According to the official website, competitors of the CBO must:

Be residents of Canada and Canadian Citizens or Landed Immigrants.

Be a part of a regular high school in Canada. First year CÉGEP students are eligible to participate.

Not have graduated high school and be enrolled in university before a set time. This changes from year to year. For 2020, this was July 1st 2020. Competitors must also be under the age of 20 by this time.

Not have already participated in the International Biology Olympiad. Competitors can only participate once.

Cannot train for more than one week or do their biology portfolio (Round 1/Part A of the competition) at an Olympiad school/specialized school/study group of less than 50 students.

Cannot participate in another International Olympiad in the same year.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN ROUND 1? ROUND 2?

For specific instructions on how to complete each round, visit the official website. At the following page... https://www.canadianbiologyolympiad.ca/competition.html, if you click on the link indicating that the portfolio is available (at the time it is made available), it will direct you to specific instructions and directions.

Here are excerpts from the 2020 CBO document and University of Toronto National Biology Competition:

Round 1:

The skills portfolio is designed to select candidates best suited to compete at the International Biology Olympiad. The IBO is more than just a knowledge competition; competitors must possess lab skills and the ability to work under pressure. By creating this portfolio students are expected to demonstrate exemplary laboratory skills, design and analysis, and the ability to complete tasks within set parameters.

There are different categories that focus on different skills for biology and other activities as stated in the excerpt.

Round 2:

The exam is 75 minutes in length and must begin between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. ET. [Location:] at participating schools. The National Biology Competition Office will send the exam materials one week prior to the exam date. [There are] 50 multiple-choice questions; prepared and reviewed by faculty members in the departments of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto. (Competition materials are available only in English.) Each of the multiple-choice questions will have five answer choices, for which only one choice is the best answer.

HOW IS THE REGISTRATION PROCESS?

In order to participate in the CBO competition, schools (any students that are interested in the same school) must be registered with the CBO as well as the University of Toronto National Biology Competition.

Make sure you register before the listed deadline.

Registration for the CBO.

Registration for the University of Toronto National Biology Competition.

ARE THERE ANY COSTS?

There is a cost for registration for both parts of the competition, $50 registration for the CBO and $7 for the University of Toronto National Biology Competition.

If you are successful in the first two rounds, you can be eligible for the National Skills Training Camp and the IBO. The cost is $4,500.

The managers of the Olympiad are aware that this is a high price and hope to refund a portion of the cost if grants become available.

NATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING CAMP:

According to the Canadian Biology Olympiad, here is a short description about the training camp:

A unique residential camp experience for students to work alongside professionals examining various biology fields and developing laboratory skills through intensive hands-on activities.  The week is spent with like-minded students completing biology labs, attending lectures and seminars enriching your biological experiences.  Each day will include knowledge based material, labs to complete, and research opportunities to explore. This camp runs parallel to Team Canada’s preparation for the International Biology Olympiad. Camp is open to students from Grades 9-12.

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE CANADIAN BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD?

Here are some other resources from the official websites as well as other sources to help you prepare for the path of your choice!

The syllabus and rules for the IBO can be found at http://www.ibo-info.org/rules-syllabus

University of Toronto National Biology Competition Exam Content page.

Past exams for the UofT National Biology Competition.

ptable.com for an online periodic table.

Textbook: The recommended textbook for the 2020 Biology Olympiad is: “Biology, 9th Edition” by Neil Campbell and Jane Reece

Bioloympiad’s list of resources for studying for the Biology Olympiad.

Bioloympiad’s blog! Start from the tab “Where to Start”

Content resources for the USA Biology Olympiad.

AoPS’s list of resources for Biology Olympiads.

The Study of Life wiki and list of resources to expand your learning, directed to Biology Olympiad participants!

The British Biology Olympiad’s website.

We hope we were able to help you find a STEM leadership opportunity that’s right for you! The OYS Council wishes you luck ⭐.

If you would like to see more content to guide you through your STEM education journey, consider following this website and our instagram!

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Engineering Workshop at the University of Waterloo!

Engineers Without Borders UW is gathering interest for an engineering workshop! They will be covering topics such as sustainability and food insecurity. To sign up, check out their page @engineerswithoutbordersuw where you can find the Google Form link in their bio!