Finding purpose and hope at a science fair.
You were a kid once. Remember? Maybe you, like me, participated in science fairs to build a project to prove something you already knew… like, say, the effects of acid rain are bad. You’d be pleased to know this ground-breaking research won me third place at the Northern Ontario Regional Science Fair when I was in Grade 8. Look at that backboard...and that haircut.
If there’s one thing I’m reminded of after attending the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) in New Brunswick last week, it’s that science fairs have evolved a lot. Today, students do more than observe and react – they set out to solve challenging societal problems. At Intact, we share that commitment – which is why the Intact Foundation invests $100,000 each year in the CWSF. We want to encourage young scientists across the country to uncover climate change adaptation solutions.
The award we provide recognizes the projects that present the best real-world solutions for climate change adaptation. The submissions this year were truly unbelievable – from using machine learning to predict flood conditions, to solar power to heat water in homes with fewer pipes and implementing autonomous technology to determine the probability of wildfires. These are real solutions built by real-life teenagers. When I spoke to them about why they chose their project, they explained that they’re looking for ways to help protect people – it was as simple as that.
Their desire to protect people and help society is contagious and an important reminder that businesses need to have a strong social purpose. At Intact, our purpose is clear - to help people, businesses and society prosper in good times and be resilient in bad ones. Partnerships are a critical component to help us achieve this – organizations like Youth Science Canada, which runs the CWSF, uncover viable solutions to help build a more climate resilient world. In return, we help build their capacity to deliver their mission to engage youth through science in inquiry and critical thinking.
Of course, acid rain is still bad – but what's cool to see is the era of observation has given way to the era of action. Thanks to the young scientists at CWSF and commitment from businesses like ours, we’re hopeful about the future.
Business Development Leader | TEDx Speaker | Ironman Triathlete | Resilience SME
5 年Today's science fairs make our old volcanos seem like childs play. Well, we were just kids but it's amazing how modern technology has shaped the way kids think and react to the world around them today. Great article Mandy. Thanks for liking and sharing Denise.
Ken Simmons Volunteer Career Advice
5 年We need a better approach towards workforce development. Workforce development is much needed in this community and beyond. However, in order for this region, and others, to succeed and grow and develop, work needs to be done further down the workforce pipeline. It is appalling that many of the school districts in the region tout the fact that a high percentage of their students are "accepted into college" with the percentage much higher than one would expect for any school district, recognizing the natural innate diversity of aptitudes and personality traits in any such population. Basing the success of a student on being accepted in college without tracking if the student actually attended or graduated from college or was successful in attaining suitable employment following such an education, is quite absurd and meaningless. Is not the purpose of an education to allow a person to develop his or her attributes to be a successful contributor to society? Why is this not the mark of the success of a school district instead of the touted figures, which are basically meaningless??
Ken Simmons Volunteer Career Advice
5 年?With such a drive to have students "college bound", the school districts are not fulfilling their responsibility to the community to provide the diversity of talents that would be appropriate to provide for the strong economic development of the community. Beginning with middle school, might it be beneficial to access the interest and aptitude and personality traits of students and assist them in developing their innate qualities to become appropriate contributors to the development of their community??
Speaker / Top ?? TEDx Speaker ?? / Author / Instructor / Founder @365give / Impact Consultant/ Philanthropist
5 年Brilliant commitment and belief in our youth Bravo ??
Public Relations Consultant | Communications Training | Reputation Management | Torchia Communications | Sage Academy | Centrik Translations
5 年A truly wonderful partnership - one that inspires and that is sure to yield great fruit. So much positive energy coming out of Canada-Wide Science Fair. It's highly contagious!? Thanks for sharing.