Building a Sustainable Let's Talk Science Partnership Program

TitleBuilding a Sustainable Let's Talk Science Partnership Program
Faculty/College/UnitVP Students
StatusCompleted
Duration3 Years
Initiation04/01/2008
Completion03/31/2011
Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2008/2009
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorAgatha Jassem
Year 1: Funded Amount26,750
Year 1: Team Members

Agatha Jassem, Office of the Vice-President, Students
Sam Lee, LTS-PP Coordinator
Lars Rose, LTS-PP Coordinator
Mike Carnate, LTS-PP Coordinator
David Ng, Michael Smith Laboratories
Tim Michel, First Nations Coordinator, Faculty of Science
Margo Fryer, UBC Learning Exchange
Davina McKaig, UBC Learning Exchange
Elske Hopcraft, UBC Learning Exchange
Catherine Anderson, Genome BC
Linda Bartz, Genome BC
Sid Katz, UBC Community Affairs
Jacqui Ferraby, UBC Community Affairs
Janet Teasdale, Student Development
Chad Hyson, Student Development
Paul Harrison, Faculty of Science
Ian Cavers, Faculty of Science
Cathleen Nichols, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Helen Burt, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Candace Parsons, Faculty of Forestry
Susan Porter, Faculty of Medicine
Barbara Evans, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Debbie Harvie, UBC Bookstore

Year 1: Summary

The Let’s Talk Science Partnership Program (LTS-PP) is a unique program that increases the professional development of undergraduate, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows by developing a keen sense of the importance of knowledge translation and community awareness. After successfully expanding the program as a TLEF funded initiative over the last three years (rural community expansion, the CEDAR summer day camp, community service learning partnerships, Invited Speaker Program, professional development workshop, Aboriginal student mentorship, the All Science Challenge, and undergraduate integration) our goal is to structure the LTS-PP in order to make impervious to coordinator turnover by creating sustainable resources and engaging into inter-dependent programming initiatives while further expanding our integration of undergraduate students. Our overall aim is to enhance the ability of undergraduate and graduate students to teach scientific concepts to diverse audiences, with the acquired skills being transferable to many positions including teaching assistantships and future academic postings.

Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2009/2010
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorIrene Yu
Year 2: Funded Amount17,750
Year 2: Team Members

Irene Yu, Office of the Vice-President, Students
Sam Lee, LTS-PP Coordinator
Lars Rose, LTS-PP Coordinator
David Ng, Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory and Michael Smith Laboratories
Tim Michel, First Nations Coordinator, Faculty of Science
Margo Fryer, UBC Learning Exchange
Davina McKaig, UBC Learning Exchange
Elske Hopcraft, UBC Learning Exchange
Catherine Anderson, Genome BC
Linda Bartz, Genome BC
Sid Katz, UBC Community Affairs
Jacqui Ferraby, UBC Community Affairs
Janet Teasdale, Student Development
Chad Hyson, Student Development
Paul Harrison, Faculty of Science
Ian Cavers, Faculty of Science
Mahesh Upadhyaya, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Helen Burt, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Cindy Prescott, Faculty of Forestry
Peter Leung, Faculty of Medicine
Barbara Evans, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Debbie Harvie, UBC Bookstore

Year 2: Summary

The Let's Talk Science Partnership Program (LTS-PP) is a nation-wide science literacy program that emphasizes community awareness and outreach by providing unique opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral fellows to develop their professional skills while promoting UBC's commitment to integrate research with the discovery, dissemination, and application of new knowledge in the community. After successfully expanding the program as a TLEF-funded initiative (2005-2008) via the establishment of rural and aboriginal outreach and mentorship programs, professional development workshops, and the All Science Challenge, our goal is to structure the LTS-PP to make it impervious to coordinator turnover by creating sustainable resources and engaging in interdependent programming initiatives while furthering the involvement of undergraduate students. The transformation of the LTS-PP into a sustainable presence at UBC is underway. Our overall aim is to arm students and trainees with transferable skills that will help them succeed at UBC and beyond.

Year 3: Project YearYear 3
Year 3: Funding Year2010/2011
Year 3: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 3: Principal InvestigatorVeronique Lecault
Year 3: Funded Amount12,750
Year 3: Team Members

Veronique Lecault, Office of the Vice-President, Students
Samantha Benton, Coordinator, LTS PP
Sherri Tran, Coordinator, LTS PP
David Ng, Advanced Molecular Biology Lab and Michael Smith Laboratories
Joanne Fox, Advanced Molecular Biology Lab
Nyamh Kelly, Faculty of Medicine
Elske Hopcraft, UBC Community Exchange
Margo Fryer, UBC Community Exchange
Janet Teasdale, Student Development
Chad Hyson, Student Development
Paul Harrison, Faculty of Science
Ian Cavers, Faculty of Science
Tyseer Aboulsnaar, Faculty of Applied Science
Mahesh Upadhyaya, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Helen Burt, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Cindy Prescott, Faculty of Forestry
Peter Leung, Faculty of Medicine
Barbara Evans, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Debbie Harvie, UBC Bookstore
Vickie McLeod, UBC Bookstore

Year 3: Summary

The UBC Let’s Talk Science Partnership Program (LTS PP) provides unique opportunities for UBC undergraduate and graduate students to develop their teaching and communication skills while promoting knowledge translation and dissemination of research discoveries in the community. During an initial expansion phase funded by a TLEF initiative (2005-2008), our program has initiated successful collaborations with several UBC partners and has become an intrinsic part of the UBC vibrant and engaged community.

In this second phase of funding (2008-2011), our goal is to implement strategies to ensure long-term success of the UBC Let’s Talk Science Partnership Program, notably by creating sustainable resources, continuing our engagement in interdependent programming initiatives, and furthering the involvement of UBC undergraduate and graduate students. Our overall aim is to enhance the ability of our volunteers to communicate their knowledge efficiently in front of diverse audiences, and to arm UBC students with transferable skills that will give them a distinct advantage to succeed in their career and as global citizens.