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SFU coordinator brings science to life for kids with learning disabilities

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By combining his passion for science and filmmaking, Jason Peterson has helped a group of kids faced with a variety of challenges succeed in a big way – including producing their own award-winning science films. 

For the past three years, Jason, a 33-year-old behavioural ecology PhD student and Let’s Talk Science volunteer and program coordinator, has been working with 15 Grade 4 to 7 students in the THRIVE program at Nootka Elementary School in Vancouver, B.C.

These students, for various reasons including extreme dyslexia, have had challenges succeeding in the traditional school system. With Jason’s assistance, however, they’ve produced several environmental films for the Panasonic’s “Kid Witness News” national film competition.

“We’ve found that filmmaking is an excellent alternative education method for these students,” says Jason, who is fondly referred to as “Dr. P” by the THRIVE kids. “They take a leadership roll in all aspects of production and learn an incredible amount – not only about the subject matter, but about the filmmaking process as well.”

Their 2008 film “Talking Trash” won a Youth Achievement Award from the BC Recycling Council and was screened during a media conference at a theatre in downtown Vancouver. Their 2009 film, called “I Am Still Creek” won the “Best Documentary” Award in the national Kids’ Witness News (KWN) contest — which resulted in two THRIVE students (and their teacher) flying to Toronto for the annual KWN Awards Ceremony!

“Jason’s efforts to help our students understand the science behind the story played an important role in THRIVE's award-winning film, “I Am Still Creek”. He has planned and led field trips, taught hands-on science lessons, patiently explained complex scientific topics and repeatedly taken kids on small group field trips,” says THRIVE program teacher Tyson Schoeber. “Put simply, his life and work amongst us has been nothing short of a tremendous blessing!”

According to Jason, throughout the process the kids have gained confidence in their abilities and leadership skills and have learned to work well in teams. “These students are so inspiring. None of them have had easy lives, yet they are able to accomplish so much in this program.”

While the THRIVE students have overcome many of their own learning obstacles, Jason also had to face an obstacle of his own – the discovery of a brain tumour that required revolutionary new robotic surgery. Instead of turning inward during this crisis, Jason visited the class after his surgery to share his experiences with them.

“The intelligence of the questions the students asked in response to my story [about the tumour and surgery] was incredible! Their questions were much more like those of university students than grade school kids,” says Jason. “They wanted to know all the details, how everything worked and what it meant for my future.”

This summer, Jason coordinated a successful run in support of brain tumour research, raising more than $8,000 with the help of Let’s Talk Science coordinators and volunteers, and THRIVE teachers and parents.

In addition to working with THRIVE, Jason has also travelled to Brooks, Alta., to do hands-on science activities with at risk youth. During his visit, he engaged students in a variety of hands-on activities related to light and shadow.

This fall, Jason will step down as coordinator of the Let’s Talk Science program at SFU.

Although he won’t be actively running the program anymore, he says “Let’s Talk Science has become such a part of my life that I will continue to be involved for a long, long time. Let’s Talk Science has given me the opportunity to share my love of science and hopefully inspire students the way my high school science teacher was able to inspire me. Empowering students to use science not only to develop skills and knowledge, but critical thinking abilities and attitudes necessary to thrive in today’s world, has been extremely rewarding."

Expanding science outreach in Winnipeg

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In two years as site coordinator for the Let’s Talk Science Partnership Program at the University of Manitoba, David Tang, along with a five-member coordinating team, has increased his site’s funding, managed more than 80 eager volunteers and established several exciting, new partnerships, increasing the site’s outreach by 145 per cent.

For his excellence in leadership and efforts to grow science outreach in Winnipeg, Man., Let’s Talk Science has recently awarded the 24-year-old coordinator with the Let’s Talk Science National Site Coordinator Award.   

David believes much of his success is owed to the strong support he receives from his coordinating team, who includes co-coordinators Kyla Fraser and Allan Chand and assistant coordinators Parthipan Kamaleswaran and Jessica Schnerch.

“There are lots of passionate volunteers and without them and the coordinating team, including my supervisor, Dr.  Worobec, Dean of Science Dr. Whitmore and Acting Dean of Science Dr. Roshko, I would not have won this award,” says David. “All of them have played a part in making this program a success.”

Among the new partnerships David and his team helped bring to fruition is a rewarding relationship with Rossbrook House, a 24-hour drop-in centre for inner city and Aboriginal youth. The centre helps Winnipeg youth avoid involvement in gangs, drugs and unstable homes.

At least once a month, Let’s Talk Science volunteers visit the centre to do hands-on science activities with the kids, who range in age from 7 to 14. According to David, the impact on the youth and volunteers has been nothing short of memorable.   

“These kids are now seeing science as fun. The volunteers give them the message that it’s important to stay with their education — and it’s working,” he says. “We will definitely continue this rewarding partnership.”

Another unique new science outreach partnership David helped establish is with St. Vital Shopping Centre in Winnipeg. On a Saturday in March, volunteers set up a community booth in the middle of the mall with six hands-on science stations. Volunteers saw more than 450 kids and parents between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., with some kids staying for more than two hours to do all six stations. Kids had the opportunity to "sew an E.coli", make DNA strands out of candy, extract DNA from strawberries, make slime and participate in chemistry and microscope workshops. 

According to David, the event was so much fun, and volunteers so enthusiastic, that no one wanted to break for lunch!

“By increasing the number of partnerships, particularly the inner city schools and rural schools, David has continued to expand the face of the Faculty of Science in the community,” says Dr. Elizabeth Worobec, Associate Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba. “David and his team of volunteers are the best role models I could hope for to encourage young students to enjoy science and pursue higher education in a science field.”

Although David will be stepping down from his role as site coordinator this September, he has left a lasting legacy at his site through the promising new science outreach partnerships in and around the city of Winnipeg.

In addition to those mentioned, he also launched the first All Science Challenge at the University of Manitoba, which brought 40 Grade 6, 7 and 8 students to campus to compete in a science knowledge competition, helped establish the Biomedical Youth Program, where kids can visit a high-tech molecular biology lab, and formed an outreach relationship with the Boys and Girls Club.   

“It’s been very rewarding to have the Associate Dean of Science say this outreach program is now the number 1 outreach program at the university for secondary schools,” says David. “That means we are reaching more and more students and inspiring them through science outreach.”

Fundraiser exceeds expectations

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Let's Talk Science site coordinators and volunteers raise more than $8,000 for research

A 5km run organized by Jason Peterson, Let's Talk Science coordinator at Simon Fraser University, in London, Ont. on June 4 raised more than $8,000 for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

Plans are already underway for a run next year at the annual National Let's Talk Science Partnership Program Conference.