Aug. 6, 2015

Professor Karen Benzies gives high school student hands-on research opportunities

Teen participates in research work program for Dr. Karen Benzies on a project looking into the effectiveness of CUPS (Calgary Urban Projects Society)
Miranda Schmidt, a student at Bert Church High School, is helping Dr. Karen Benzies with data input and analysis for a research project at the University of Calgary.

Miranda Schmidt is helping Dr. Karen Benzies with data input through the HYRS program.

It’s been an amazing summer for Miranda Schmidt, who is going into Grade 12 at Bert Church High School.

The teen is participating in a work program at the University of Calgary, doing research for Dr. Karen Benzies on a project entitled: An Analysis of Data Collected for the CUPS Prenatal to Three Program Evaluation.

Schmidt was given the opportunity through the HYRS program, which gives Grade 11 students a six-week hands-on research experience over the summer at a university in Alberta.

“It has been absolutely fantastic,” said an enthusiastic Schmidt, who is three weeks into her program.

“It has blown my mind how much experience you get with it and how much training. They are basically teaching you how to work in a professional environment.”

Schmidt has been doing data input and analysis for Dr. Benzies’ project, which is looking into the effectiveness of CUPS (Calgary Urban Projects Society), a registered charity that helps individuals, families and communities by providing health care, education, housing and support programs to Calgarians struggling with poverty.

Read the full story by Dawn Smith in the Aug. 4, 2015 issue of the Airdrie Echo.