National body honours Kivalliq science teachers

Kivalliq science teachers celebrate the NSERC award for science education at their regional science fair in Baker Lake. From left: Steve Penney (Whale Cove), Jim Kreuger (Baker Lake), Angeline Simik (Chesterfield Inlet), Jeninith Peart (Baker Lake), Jennifer Perry (Repulse Bay), Katharine O’Connell (Rankin Inlet), Tony Phinney (Arviat). Missing from Photo: Bill Cooper (Baker Lake), Glen Brocklebank (Chesterfield Inlet), Danielle Fitzgerald (Arviat)

Science teachers in the Kivalliq are getting national recognition for a job well done.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada has awarded its annual NSERC Award for Science Promotion to a group of teachers in the Kivalliq region, a prize that includes a fat cheque.

“The activities that earned KSEC this recognition include capturing students’ scientific imaginations through science fairs, camps, contests, awards and creative teaching resources,” reads the congratulatory letter from NSERC vice-president Isabelle Blain.

“These activities made science fun and relevant preparing Inuit youth for an increasingly technological world. It is also noteworthy that your organization emphasizes the connection between science and the student’s culture and heritage.”

The Kivalliq Science Educators’ Community has not yet firmly decided what to do with the $25,000 award from NSERC.

KSEC president Jim Krueger said the group is considering buying new educational materials, camping supplies and-or storage space.

“That (the money) was quite a nice bit of news,” he said. “It was quite nice to hear and made us feel very good about what we are doing.”

KSEC is a registered charity which has operated for 16 years, made up mostly of educators in the Kivalliq region who are involved with science and math teaching.

Since it began in 1994 KSEC’s budget has grown to $80,000 a year. All it’s staff are volunteers.

KSEC’s annual activities include the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair, the Regional Science and Culture Camp and the Regional Science Olympics, Math Month every November, and the Annual Science Awards.