NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2011SU0009-000161 Feb. 22, 2011

Ministry of Science and Universities

 

Year of Science coming to Prince George

 

PRINCE GEORGE – Prince George will host a Year of Science themed expo in April, ‘Science and the World Around Us’, Minister of Science and Universities Ida Chong announced today.

 

            “Hosting this expo in Prince George brings the Year of Science message to the northern region,” said Chong. “We are very fortunate to be working with the University of Northern B.C., whose curriculum and unique expertise aligns closely with the expo’s theme.”

 

            The public are invited to the free expo at the Prince George Civic Centre on April 11 and 12. It will feature expert presenters, workshops and displays on topics ranging from forestry, cooking and wine, fisheries, green technology, bio fuels and mining.

 

“Science is part of our daily life. This event will allow families to learn more about how science has affected the world around us,” said Shirley Bond, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “The better we understand science, the more we appreciate and relate to the world around us. I encourage everyone to drop down to the Civic Centre on April 11 and 12 to attend the Northern Science Expo.”

 

            One of the ways the Year of Science is encouraging excitement and participation in science is by hosting four themed expos.

 

In November 2010, the Science and Health Expo attracted more than 3,000 public visitors and welcomed 400 students from 14 schools. The Science and Sport Expo, held on Feb. 11, used the outdoor rink at Vancouver’s Robson Square to showcase how science has influenced many aspects of sport including nutrition, equipment design and injury prevention. More than 1,700 public visitors, including 325 students, took part in the presentations, workshops and demonstrations.

 

A popular feature of the expos is the career roundtables for students that give them a chance to hear from some of the brightest experts in their field on what it took to get where they are today. Recruitment for school participation and booking for classes to attend the expo will begin shortly. 

 

 

            “With job projections that one in eight jobs in the next 10 years will be in science-related occupations, it is essential to get young people interested in science,” said Pat Bell, Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands. “At the expo, local youth will learn about the varied and well-paying science-related careers in the area, particularly in the resource sector - which is such a vital part of the local economy.

 

To learn more about the Year of Science, visit: www.YearofSciencebc.ca

 

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Media Contact:

Gordon Keast Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Science and Universities 250 952-0132

 

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