Science Minister Kirsty Duncan addresses science promoters at conference in Ottawa

/EINPresswire.com/ -- OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 01/22/16 -- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Actua, a national charity that promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning in youth, found an ally in the Government of Canada today as Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan addressed delegates at their annual conference in Ottawa. Minister Duncan, who since taking office has become a national champion for STEM promotion, told the group of about 70 delegates that she looks forward to working with Actua and similar organizations. She highlighted the need to mobilize a wide range of partners to deliver youth outreach and public engagement activities. She emphasized the vital need for inspiring science literacy and critical thinking and said that, as a teacher, a scientist and a politician, she has seen first-hand the benefits of promoting science dialogue in order to inform public policy.

Quick facts

--  Actua is a leading science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
    outreach organization. Together with its network of university- and
    college-based members, it engages and inspires over 225,000 youth per
    year in transformational STEM experiences.
--  Actua reaches students in every province and territory in Canada through
    the delivery of summer camps, classroom workshops, clubs and community
    outreach activities.
--  The Government of Canada supports Actua through its PromoScience
    Program, which is administered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering
    Research Council.
--  The Minister of Science will work with the Minister of Employment,
    Workforce Development and Labour to help employers create more STEM co-
    op placements.
--  The Government of Canada works to promote a STEM culture through
    programs such as PromoScience and Let's Talk Science. Support for
    science is an essential pillar of the government's strategy and will
    help create sustainable economic growth.

Quote

"We want to help create a vibrant science culture in Canada and to do that, our young people need a solid STEM foundation so they can take on the knowledge-based jobs of the future. I look forward to working with organizations like Actua to help our young people get excited about science and research and to encourage them to pursue careers in STEM fields and take on these challenges for the betterment of all Canadians."

- The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

Associated links

actua.ca

science.gc.ca

Follow the Minister on Twitter: @ScienceMin

Contacts:
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca

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