Downloads

» Click here to download a brochure!

» Click here to download the official Volunteer's Handbook

» Click here to download instructions for making an expense/travel claim, then download the appropriate forms below.

» Click here to download an expense claim form

» Click here to download a travel claim form

» If these expense form links do not work, try here

What do we do?

»As it says in our mission statement; The Let's Talk Science Partnership Program strives to improve Science literacy through leadership, innovative educational programs, research and advocacy. We motivate and empower youth to use science, technology and engineering to develop critical skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to thrive in our world. The Partnership Program reaches thousands of youth and educators annually through its nation wide programs.

»As a volunteer you would be paired with a school teacher from the edmonton area. Students range from kindergarden to highschool, so you can choose your audience. Volunteers and teachers then put their heads together to come up with some activities or experiments that fit the school curriculum, but also fit your interests. The options are essentially limited only by your imagination! Like every Partnership Program host site, the individual partnerships are unique. This program is offered at no cost to teachers or volunteers, ensuring that all potential volunteers, teachers and schools have access to this excellent program. All transportation and material costs costs you may accumulate as a volunteer are covered by the program!

What’s in it for me?

»Unviersity volunteers participating in the partnership program are given the opportunity to improve their teaching, communication and presentation skills to a very general audience. Basically, if you can get a grade 6 student to understand you, then you can get anyone to understand you! Additionally, it gives volunteers the ability to promote their research to the community, and promote themselves as active scientists within the University of Alberta. Because really who doesn't like to talk about their own work? The program is not labour intensive; We expect a minimum of two visits to a classroom which probably won't take up more than 8 hours a year (unless you want it too!). This allows you to participate without compromising your academic responsibilities and is a means for you to give back to the community. You act as a positive role model and provide mentorship to students- our volunteers have often been asked for autographs! (no seriously, it happens all the time) I bet if you all think back to when you were kids you still remember someone who came into your school and gave some kind of fun presentation. This is your chance to be that person, and that's pretty cool! And, if all that isn't enough, funding organizations such as NSERC (one of our National supporters) and the Alberta Ingenuity Fund (Who also support a diversity of science outreach programs) look favourably on the participation of their applicants in the Let’s Talk Science Partnership Program. Finally, if you don't care about any of that, it's just really fun to get out of the lab and hang out with kids for half a day! And we'll probably give you pizza at the end of the year.

Resources

We want to make volunteering easy! It's great, and sometimes more fun, if you can come up with your own activities. However if you are short on ideas or time, we have a number of premade kits and activities that you can borrow and use for any grade level! These are all designed with the Canadian school curriculum in mind. Many were developed at our site and specifically for Alberta curriculum. Check out the Resources section for more details.

Sign Me Up!

» If you're sold on the program, just send us an email. We can answer any questions you may have.

email: ltspp@ualberta.ca

Also you may want to look at the National Partnership Program Site