Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

GENESKOOL

Kamloops students take part in a unique science camp hosted at TRU

Jul 25, 2024 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — For around a dozen young people, the last week has been spent in one of the labs at Thompson Rivers University. There, they’ve been taking part in Geneskool, unravelling a mystery around a contaminated lab.

“Basically, this doctor had an infection, as we think that there’s been an outbreak in the lab,” William McArthur explains, “so we’ve basically been doing different things to try to figure it out.”

The infection is part of a narrative that Geneskool Director of Summer Science Camps Samantha Smith put together, as a way to help engage students in learning the skills they’ve been practicing throughout the week.

“They’re sometimes wondering, ‘Why are we learning this,’ or, ‘What purpose does it have?’” Smith explains. “Having that structure of a narrative like a mystery or an outbreak can get [the students] thinking about those real-world applications.”

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The camp is designed for youth in Grades 9 to 12 and is based on the BC Science curriculum. However, the labs at TRU allow the campers to have access to some next-level gear.

“We just modified some DNA, which is very interesting,” Aziz Ovington tells CFJC News. “I did not know it was as simple as it was.”

“I know at my school we aren’t able to use the micropipettes,’ Ruth Burnell says. “At this program, you’re able to use new materials and equipment so that if you are interested in pursuing science or doing genes in your future, it can give you a head start and get you comfortable with the equipment.”

“The level that they’re learning this at is probably closer to first-year university,” Smith says. “It’s a lot of information, but it does give them the building blocks to take that forward and to consider what they might want to do when it comes to science.”

This session of Geneskool is a partnership between Thompson Rivers University and GenomeBC, a non-profit organization that is working to grow the field of genomic research in the province.

“We do this in partnership with TRU and other universities, otherwise it wouldn’t be possible,” Smith says. “We’re really excited to continue to spread this program and hope that we get people coming back.”

For more information about Geneskool, you can visit GenomeBC.ca.