Actua (Canadian charity)
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Actua is a Canadian charitable organization[1] that delivers science, engineering and technology educational programs to young people in Canada.[2][3][4]
Actua's stated mission is "to provide young Canadians with life-changing science, engineering and technology experiences that inspire youth to achieve their potential and fulfill their critical role in the world."[5][6]
The organization is a member of the Science and Technology Awareness Network (S.T.A.N.). Actua's president and CEO is Jennifer E. Flanagan.[7]
Structure and programs
Actua operates on a membership structure, consisting of member organizations located at 31 university and college institutions across Canada.[8] Actua's member programs are delivered by undergraduate and high school students[9] through science camps and workshops, which are customized to the needs of local communities.[10]
The programs use hands-on activities in fields such as health, mining, biology and ecology.[11][12] The majority of member organizations also travel outside the urban centers where they are located to deliver camps and workshops in rural and remote communities.[13]
The programs include:
- National Mentorship Program[4][14]
- National Aboriginal Outreach Program[10][15][16][17]
- National Girls Program[18][19][20]
- Go Where Kids Are Program[21][22]
National members
The program has 34 members throughout the various provinces and territories of Canada.
Alberta
- Lethbridge: Destination Exploration at the University of Lethbridge
- Edmonton: DiscoverE at the University of Alberta
- Calgary: Minds in Motion at the University of Calgary
- Red Deer: Science Promotion at Red Deer College
British Columbia
- Kamloops: EUReKA! Science Program at Thompson Rivers University
- Vancouver: GEERing Up! at the University of British Columbia
- Burnaby: Science AL!VE at Simon Fraser University
- Victoria: Science Venture at the University of Victoria
Manitoba
- Brandon: Mini University at Brandon University
- Winnipeg: Eco-Kids at the University of Winnipeg and WISE Kid-Netic Energy at the University of Manitoba
New Brunswick
- Fredericton: Worlds UNBound at the University of New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
- Halifax: SuperNOVA at Dalhousie University
- Antigonish: X-Chem Outreach Program at St. Francis Xavier University[23]
Nunavut
- Iqaluit: Simply Science at the Nunavut Research Institute
Ontario
- Ottawa: Adventures in Engineering and Science at the University of Ottawa and Virtual Ventures at Carleton University
- Guelph: Creative Encounters at the University of Guelph
- London: Discovery Western at the University of Western Ontario
- Toronto: Engineering Outreach at the University of Toronto and Science Explorations at York University
- Waterloo: ESQ at the University of Waterloo
- Kingston: ASUS Camps at Queen's University
- Thunder Bay: Superior Science at Lakehead University
- Hamilton: Venture Engineering and Science at McMaster University
- Brantford: SNP STEAM Academy at Six Nations Polytechnic
Quebec
- Montreal: Folie Technique at École Polytechnique de Montréal
- Trois-Rivières: Génitrucs at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
- Laval: Musée Armand Frappier at Centre d'interprétation des Biosciences
Saskatchewan
- Regina: EYES (Educating Youth in Engineering & Science) at the University of Regina and FNU Health and Science Camp at First Nations University of Canada
- Saskatoon: SCI-FI Science Camps at the University of Saskatchewan
Yukon
- Whitehorse: Science Adventures at Yukon College
Awards
In 2009, the Ontario Trillium Foundation named Actua and its 11 Ontario members the winner of the Minister's Award recognizing not-for-profit organizations that have had "an exceptional impact in their communities."[24] In 2000, Actua was awarded the Michael Smith Award by the National Science and Engineering Research Council.[25] In 2000, Actua was awarded the Michael Smith Award by the National Science and Engineering Research Council.[26]
In 2000, Actua submitted its programs to an independent evaluation process to measure their programs' effectiveness. The three-year research initiative surveyed student participants who revealed that, as a result of their experience with Actua programs:
- 83% felt that they were more confident in their ability to do technology and science;
- 84% stated that their enjoyment of technology and science had increased;
- 81% stated that their knowledge of engineering had increased;
- 84% felt that they would do better in technology and science at school;
- 75% stated that they were more likely to take optional science in high school; and
- 74% stated that they were more likely to study science in university[27]
References
- ^ "Charities Listings". Cra-arc.gc.ca. 2008-11-10. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Having Fun for West Moberly Science Camp", Max Fawcett, Chetwynd Echo, Chetwynd BC, 31 July 2009
- ^ "Science Camp inspires young minds", Kristjanna Grimmelt, The Record Gazette, Peace River AB, August 25, 2010
- ^ a b "Canada EN : Our Company : Citizenship : GE Canada and ACTUA". GE. 2009-02-06. Archived from the original on 2010-03-28. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Actua website". Archived from the original on 12 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ Samantha Stokell (August 10, 2010), Everyday science for northern students, Fort Smith NT: Slave River Journal
- ^ The Science and Technology Awareness Network - STAN Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "member locations | Actua". Actua.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-01-12. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Fun while learning", Darrell Greer, Nunavut News/North, Nunavut, August 4, 2010
- ^ a b "Feds invest in science camps", Kassina Ryder and Emily Ridlington, Nunavut News/North, Nunavut, July 19, 2010
- ^ "The Science and Technology Awareness Network - STAN". Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ The Science and Technology Awareness Network - STAN Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Video Breakout Player". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Info Synapse - CIHR's Synapse Newsflash - Issue 1 - CIHR". Cihr-irsc.gc.ca. 2009-06-25. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ Outreach to Aboriginal Communities - CIHR Archived February 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Science and camp: a winning combination", Heather Andrews Miller, Alberta Sweetgrass, Pg. 8, September 8, 2010
- ^ "Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative - APC". Apcfnc.ca. 2010-03-31. Archived from the original on 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Canadian Women's Foundation". Cdnwomen.org. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Ados Sciences en vacances au Canada", Le Monde, Paris, France, October 16, 2008
- ^ "Western Women in Engineering Chapter". Eng.uwo.ca. Archived from the original on 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs". Boysandgirlsclubs.ca. 2010-08-16. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Kelowna Kids Enjoy Actua Science Summer Camp", Okanagan Boys and Girls Club website, August 23, 2010
- ^ "Actua - Find a Member" Archived June 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Actua.ca. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ^ "Great Grants Award Recipients Chosen". Trilliumfoundation.org. Archived from the original on 2010-06-13. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Science in Canada" (PDF). Canadian Commission for UNESCO. 2001. ISBN 0-9681432-9-6. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
- ^ "Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada" [Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada]. Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "Crombie". Cjc.synergiesprairies.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-09-22.