Improving Inuit student representation within STEM post-secondary programs and research careers.
High School or Adult Basic Education
Workshop or Multi-year
Virtual and/or On-site
The project goal is to improve Inuit student representation within STEM post-secondary programs and research careers. To achieve this goal, the CLS and the Canadian Arctic One Health Network (University of Saskatchewan) have together developed the Arctic Fox Project, a science adventure project that engages teachers, students, and communities.
The Canadian Arctic One Health Network addresses complex challenges by engaging multiple disciplines and non-academic stakeholders in the North. Through the Arctic Fox Project, the Canadian Arctic One Health Network will build on their existing network of researchers and community partners to monitor, model, and mitigate One Health threats across the changing Canadian North.
The Canadian Light Source is proud to offer the Arctic Fox Program and we acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) PromoScience to make this possible.
Project Options
Seminars
Seminars are delivered either virtual or can be in-person and are intended for a class to be introduced to CLS, synchrotron science, and background knowledge of this project. These can also be curated for an educator audience. Seminars are typically around 60 minutes long but we can adapt to suit your needs. For a full list of seminar topics, please check out our Seminar web page and view the Indigenous-focused topic options. Our Education Coordinator - Indigenous Programs would also be happy to connect with you if you have additional ideas!
Online Distance Project
We can also do an online distance project with this program. Students will explore the nutritional elements of Arctic Fox and their dens from various locations across the Nunavut Territory by developing a research project with teachers and CLS science mentors. Students will work with their scientific team online, collect hair, soil, and other samples with appropriate Hunters and Traditional Trappers from the community, and mail them to the CLS. They will virtually guide the sample preparation and participate in the experiment virtually during a scheduled beamtime. All data and results will be shared with students and teacher for presentations and future use.
Long-Term Collaborative Project
We also offer Long-term projects, which can take the form of the Light Source Student Experience or Students on the Beamlines programs. Students create their own project while their teachers work with the Education Coordinator - Indigenous Programs for supports and resources. Program Leads visit the school when possible, meet the staff and students, perform presentations, observe fox necropsy, and attend land-based classes.
When the project has reached the experimental development stage, students will fly (if possible) to Saskatoon, SK and stay on the University of Saskatchewan campus, complete a beamline experiment at the CLS, and return to celebrate and present their experience in a Traditional Cultural Expression to their caregivers, Elders, and community.
Registration
Are you interested in participating in the Arctic Fox Program either through the workshop sessions, an online distance project, or a long-term collaborative project? Email our Education Coordinator - Indigenous Programs to start this journey!