TeamUp Science at the University of Alberta

TeamUP science hosted its annual Interdisciplinary Science Competition at the University of Alberta from February 16^th to the 18^th for the sixth straight year. Interdisciplinary Science Competition provides an opportunity for high school students from across Alberta to come together and put their knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics to the test. Students compete in different STEM related competitions while gaining valuable skills and insights into the world of science. The program is especially encouraging in that it targets under-represented youth as participants.

In addition to learning via competition, an information session featuring booths from multiple faculties, departments and labs introduced students to the research carried out at the university in different scientific fields. Students were amused by inflatable walking dinosaurs at the paleontology station, awestruck at the products of 3D printing at an engineering station, and simultaneously fascinated yet grossed out by the wide variety of preserved parasites on display at the parasitology station.

University of Alberta graduate students involved in HPI, as well as volunteers, showed up to explain the intricacies of the animals capable of living in or on you at your expense. Exoparasites were on full display as students were capable of looking at moose skin peppered with ticks, while endoparasites were well represented by a wide variety of wildlife tapeworms, nematodes and trematodes. In addition to the samples of a variety of parasites that HPI members research, students were informed of the intricate life cycles many of these parasites employ via posters and diagrams.

The experience proved to be overwhelmingly positive for both high school students and HPI presenters alike. High school students were able to learn about parasites they’d never heard of, while we enjoyed the opportunity to talk to a group with a genuine interest in the field we have devoted our time to explore. The most promising fact was that students even asked how we got to the point of being graduate students and they exhibited interest in how to get to that point themselves. All in all, this event proved to be encouraging for both students and presenters, while functioning as a great opportunity to tell the public all about the work we do as HPI students!