Ontario Launches Youth Entrepreneurship Program

Recognizing the economic benefits of engaging young people in science and technology, Ontario's McGuinty government recently launched the Youth Science and Technology Outreach Program. The new program links high school students with researchers to support in-depth mentorship experience and postsecondary career advice.

The Provincial government will provide $3 million over three years to fund projects that include speaking engagements, workshops and demonstration projects, short-term projects in a lab or field research site, student science competitions, expert-in-residence programs, and lab mentorships. According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the goals of the program are to:

• Connect high school students, particularly those in rural and undeserved communities, with Ontario's publicly-funded researchers;
• Provide students with hands-on science and technology experiences that help them gain an understanding of the research process and the connection between lab research and the science taught in classrooms; and,
• Publicly promote science and technology.

Nonprofit organizations including postsecondary institutions, science awareness organizations, research institutes, and industry and professional associations are eligible to apply for program funding. More information is available at: http://www.ontariocanada.com/ontcan/en/youth/youth_science_outreach.jsp