Science Alberta team preparing province for a technical future

Twenty-two thousand visionary Albertans weren’t wrong.

Thirteen years ago, they signed a petition drawing attention to the province’s need to compete in an increasingly global, technological setting. In response, the non-profit Science Alberta Foundation was formed for science awareness and promotion.

Today, the foundation is thriving as it moves to meet the challenge and opportunities of the latest technological tour de force – this one in its own backyard: the Alberta SuperNet.

The characters at wonderville.ca are designed to relate to kids.

But let’s not get ahead of yet another made-in-Alberta success story.

Science Alberta’s mandate is to encourage youth to choose careers in science and technology, ultimately creating a technically literate citizenry and a workforce capable of meeting rapidly evolving market demands.

But Science Alberta veered from a traditional approach in its drive to become a catalytic agency for change. “Our model and programs are unique to North America,” says Dr. Arlene Ponting, CEO of Science Alberta. “We call ourselves ‘The Science Centre Without Walls.’

“We create very innovative science programs for others to deliver with their own staff and volunteers. Without the limitations of bricks and mortar, we can be agile, responsive and cost-effective.” Dr. Ponting points to Science Alberta’s lively lightbulb logo. “Look at what the lightbulb illuminates, not at the lightbulb itself.” Science Alberta’s target audiences are students and families. Its circulating resources are designed for the province’s classrooms and communities. Science Alberta’s hallmark is its ‘Science in a Crate’ program – “We’ve had it from the beginning and it’s still our signature program. We enable teachers to do what they do best, using our materials. We don’t replace teachers,” says Dr. Ponting.

Science Alberta CEO Dr. Arlene Ponting, left, and communications director Donna Livingstone are among those helping get kids – like the budding scientists below – interested in science careers.

For the accessible fee of $25, teachers can book one of 75 crates with hands-on, minds-on activities in themes ranging from a chocolate factory to a crime scene, all designed for a variety of learning styles.

Another popular program is the touring exhibits. Last year, Science Alberta exhibits visited more than 131 communities and touched 139,000 people. The five exhibits (two more are on the way for 2003) create mini-science centres to stimulate curiosity and help bring science to life.

Science Alberta takes another family-oriented approach through Science Festivals. “We work with communities to showcase the amazing science that is happening locally. Science just doesn’t happen in universities, but in your own neighbourhood,” emphasizes Dr. Ponting.

What’s in the near future for Science Alberta?

The Alberta SuperNet – the province’s own high-speed information highway— will roll out shortly, and Science Alberta is eager to head down that expressway. By winter of 2004, SuperNet will connect 422 rural communities and 4,700 facilities to the Internet, including schools and libraries.

“We’re really excited about how SuperNet will increase our ability to reach people,” says Dr. Ponting. “We already have a network of community hosts and a network of teachers. Now we have a virtual network to make science come alive.”

Science Alberta’s Internet presence is taking shape at www.wonderville.ca with the help of creative partner Idea Machine. “Getting it right is something we have worked hard at doing. To give the site a human touch, we have created characters to whom kids can relate,” says Dr. Ponting.

Students can go on adventures with the animated characters who challenge them to think critically – “the site uses a minds-on approach; there is no clicking around,” says Dr. Ponting.

In 2003 the Science Camp Kits will debut. And further down the line there’s the year-long 100 Heroes for 100 Years multi-media program to coincide with Alberta’s centenary in 2005. More than 30 partners are working with Science Alberta on this celebration of a century of innovation in the province. “It’s all about instilling local pride.”

How do the 15 employees of Science Alberta accomplish all this? “We’re a high-performance organization. We do solid strategic planning and we have a performance measurement framework,” says Dr. Ponting. “We have developed robust systems to ensure accountability.

“For a non-profit organization, we’re as close to a business model as you can get.”

As talented, creative and energetic as the Science Alberta team is, they couldn’t do what they do so well without collaborative “people power”: advisors ranging from their board of directors to scientists, teachers, industry experts, librarians and even the end-users themselves – Alberta’s future scientists and techies. “There’s no one as honest as kids,” laughs Dr. Ponting.

While Alberta Innovation and Science is the foundation’s main source of funding, some prominent names in Alberta industry have lined up to partner with Science Alberta. Suncor, Epcor, Enbridge, Shell – these are just a few of Alberta’s corporate citizens sponsoring Science Alberta’s innovative programs.

“Our sponsors are our very valued core,” says Dr. Ponting. “Our work would not be possible without the financial support and services we receive from industry, individuals and government.”

Call, e-mail or come visit the folks at Science Alberta to find out more about their current and coming programs. You’ll be infused with their enthusiasm for all things scientific – and you never know when you might have a lightbulb moment.