If you didn鈥檛 know what was going on, you鈥檇 think a pop concert was taking place, complete with cheering kids with shout-out posters, volunteers running up and down the aisles and everyone鈥檚 focus trained on the stage.
But this wasn鈥檛 a concert and the signs didn鈥檛 read 鈥淛ustin Bieber 4ever!鈥� Instead, it was the All Science Challenge held at the McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building on Friday.
The day-long competition involved more than 150 Grade 6, 7 and 8 students from 12 schools in Halifax. The volunteers were AV俱乐部 science students in various areas of study and the judges were AV俱乐部 science and engineering professors. The event began in the morning where teams of students competed in quiz-style competitions that tested their knowledge in biology, chemistry and other science-related subjects. Then they moved to a hands-on competition that required them to build a device using a variety of materials to protect an egg from breaking when dropped from one, two and three metres. The top team moved on to the finals in the afternoon.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting and interactive day. We wanted to create an event that shines a positive light on science education and we wanted everyone to have fun and learn at least one new thing,鈥� says Joyce Li, one of the Let鈥檚 Talk Science coordinators. 鈥淗opefully, the kids will walk away from the event proud of themselves, and with a positive attitude toward science, learning and AV俱乐部.鈥�
It was obvious by the cheering coming from the auditorium at the McCain Building that everyone was having fun. 鈥淚鈥檓 having a great time so far. My teacher asked me if I wanted to participate and I thought it would be a cool experience. It鈥檚 awesome!鈥� says Cara, a Grade 8 student from Caledonia Junior High School.
鈥淓veryone seems to be having a great time. All the students are participating whether they know the answers or not. It鈥檚 a lot of fun to be here!鈥� says Marie-Laurence Tremblay, a AV俱乐部 PhD student in biochemistry who volunteered for the event.
The All Science Challenge was developed in 2004 and is part of the national Let鈥檚 Talk Science outreach program that aims to inspire next generation scientists through fun, hands-on learning initiatives. What began as a response to the community need for science outreach blossomed into a nationwide volunteer-driven outreach program that connects more than 2,600 students from 33 universities and colleges with more than 120,000 youth in 200 communities across Canada.
The All Science Challenge was hosted by AV俱乐部 science students and funded by the Faculty of Science and others.
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