Dr. Broad wins $18,200 in funding

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA UNIVERSITY

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Algoma U Professor Wins NSERC Grant

Algoma University is pleased to announce that Associate Professor in the Department of Community Development and Social Work, Dr. Gayle Broad, has been awarded a prestigious Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) PromoScience grant, valued at $18,200.

"We have an excellent group of faculty and students here at Algoma University, working on a range of exciting research projects," said Dr. David Schantz, Vice-President Academic and Research at the University.  "We are privileged to be able to work with Dr. Broad as one of our faculty members and celebrate her accomplishments.  It is with great satisfaction that we see her research being recognized by NSERC."

NSERC's PromoScience grants offer financial support for organizations working with young Canadians to promote an understanding of science and engineering (including mathematics and technology).

PromoScience supports hands-on learning experiences for young students and their science teachers.

The $18,200 in funding will be used to provide urban farm education science summer camps for youth over the duration of the next three years.

This is a joint collaboration with the Anishinaabe Initiatives Division (AID) and their pre-existing Binesi Summer Camps, with partners in the Community Economic and Social Development (CESD) program, Biology, and Geology and Geography Departments at the University, the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN), and NORDIK Institute.

The camps will be hands-on, experiential science-based, with an emphasis on food security and sovereignty, food safety, nutrition, and food preparation.

The Urban Farm Education camp will include exercises in the field, garden, computer, and science labs.

The Urban Farm Education camp will increase access and understanding and will encourage a love for science for northern, rural, and First Nations youth, and foster an interest in post-secondary education.

The project will build on the success of earlier research and development of the market for local food and improved environmental outcomes.

It is expected that a total of 75 campers will participate in these camps over three years.

"This grant has allowed the Binesi camps to add a whole other week of camp programming," said Professor Laura Wyper, who was instrumental in helping secure the funding. "The funding helps the project as it is the main source, other than in-kind work, behind the creation of the urban farm camp. This type of camp will help get the message out there to our future generations as to the importance of urban agriculture in terms of food security and the right [food sovereignty] to grow and eat healthy food."

This year's camp will run from August 5-8 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. for students in grades four through eight.

There is a $20 registration fee and lunches are provided.

For more information or to register, please contact Cheryl Suggashie, Summer Camp Coordinator at [email protected].

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