Two School District 47 students from Brooks Secondary School spent a week at University of British Columbia (UBC) performing hands-on science research.
According to Brooks counsellor Gerry Brach, pupils Raine Thrasher and Sydney Sheridan attended the university from May 28 to June 9.
“Imagine the excitement of being immersed in a major Canadian university environment doing actual science lab research for one week,” stated Brach in a media release. “As scholarship recipients of the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation program, these Powell River students joined with 37 other first nations, Inuit and Métis students from across Canada to participate in this inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity.”
Brach stated that in addition to doing actual research taught by university faculty, students had the opportunity to stay in student residences at UBC’s Vancouver campus. Through this experience, the local students came to realize that university is not a foreign environment, but an extension of their high-school learning, and a place where they can feel a sense of belonging and support, he added.
After spending time in Dr. Ying’s laboratory at UBC, 17-year-old Thrasher discovered that he is now interested in learning more about quantum matter.
“For me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” stated Thrasher. “It was incredibly eye-opening and inspiring to be able to work next to world-renowned scientists who were working on state-of-the-art advances in quantum matter.
“Having all my expenses paid was wonderful and allowed me to focus on what I was learning in the lab. I would totally recommend this experience to other, Métis, first nations or Inuit students.”
Thrasher was excited to experience university life by living in student dorms, the release stated. He also enjoyed spending time with other like-minded students on campus. Before attending the Verna J. Kirkness program, he did not think he would ever attend college or university. As a result of spending time on the UBC campus, his vision has now been extended to explore the possibility of studying business at a university or college.
Sheridan, another grade 11 student from Brooks, spent her week in a chemistry lab learning how to create nanoparticles and make them glow.
“My mentor was Dr. Primrose, who was very patient in the way he taught me scientific concepts that I never thought I could understand,” stated Sheridan. “We also learned how light is measured.”
After spending a week at UBC, Sheridan now realizes how important it is to learn from the people around her.
“Before spending time in a research lab, I never really enjoyed learning about science at school, but now I see things from a different perspective,” stated Sheridan, adding that she also feels fortunate to have spent some private time with Kirkness, the foundation’s benefactor.
The purpose of the education foundation program is to encourage student interest in post-secondary study, and to help students make a positive difference in their home community, according to Brach.
“We are very fortunate to have this unparalleled opportunity to take our students from what they are learning in our high school classes and expose them to fields of research in various universities across Canada,” stated Brach.
