HPI Community Outreach at the UCalgary Minds in Motion Summer Camp 2014

This summer members of the NSERC Host-Parasite Interactions community came together in collaboration with University of Calgary Minds-in-Motion summer day camps to educate youths about parasites and careers in research. The Minds-in-Motion program core goal is to provide insight and education beyond what is taught in the public education system and outside of the typical curriculum, with specific emphasis on science, engineering, and technology. To accomplish this, a hands on and inquiry based learning style is employed that seeks to motivate and inspire participants to choose a future in the life sciences and fulfill a critical role in society. In keeping with this, the NSERC HPI deployed several trainees to speak about their life experiences in choosing a career in science and what interested them in dedicating their lives to parasitology. Despite varying backgrounds, whether it was international students or residents of Calgary, the Minds-in-Motion students heard different stories that each led the HPI trainees to the University of Calgary. Additionally, trainees spoke briefly about their research project and interests.

Personally I was awestruck by the questions and interest of these youths in parasitology having grossly underestimating their knowledge-base. I think this speaks to not only the quality learning that occurs within the Minds-in-Motion program but also the general interest that these youths have for understanding science and technology. 

I gave a talk on the circumstances that attracted me to the University of Calgary and initiating a PhD with Dr. Kris Chadee. Briefly, I had done an undergraduate research project at Simon Fraser University with focus on bacterial pathogenesis of microbes that infect the gastrointestinal tract. I knew I was interested in understanding the complexity of how things function in the gut and how pathogens exploit these mechanisms during pathogenesis. However, I felt the field of bacteriology was saturated in this respect and became interested in parasitology. The University of Calgary boasts an entire department dedicated to Gastrointestinal Sciences and also the NSERC HPI program, factors that ultimately led me to initiate a PhD. I now work in the laboratory of Dr. Kris Chadee investigating the mechanisms of mucin release from intestinal goblet cells, particularly the cellular processes that regulate this during Entamoeba histolytica infection.

After the talks, the HPI set up stations with parasite samples and microscopes for closer examination and hands on learning. During this time, the students actively interacted with HPI trainees and asked numerous intellectual questions about pathogenesis, distribution, and route of transmission of the samples. A popular sample was that of Ascaris, a parasitic nematode that generally inhabits the intestines of swine and Equus. The samples we prepared, A. suum, were up to 30cm long and the vast majority of students found them utterly disgusting. Microscopy samples were also very popular and I was very surprised at how well these youths understood how to operate these microscopes, with many switching objectives and focusing without any help. 

After the session the students presented the HPI trainees with a card and Erlenmeyer coffee mugs, a fantastic way to remember this event.

I am reminded after participating in these events the importance of activities outside of the laboratory and how this can truly bring balance to the hectic life of a graduate student. Further, by leaving a positive impression on these youths about choosing a career in science and the possibilities that ensue I was reminded that there is more value to a PhD than just acquiring data.  I was humbled that one day these very same students may be prospective trainees and events such as these be the reason they chose to dedicate their life to research and understanding the nature of how things work.