Health research in Canada is entirely dependent on SRT literacy and student engagement, in order to create the necessary pools of talent and interest to sustain research activities. Recognizing this dependency, the CIHR is determined to interest and engage young people through its new Synapse program. For CIHR, this initiative symbolizes the act of creating a meeting place, a junction that brings together youth with researchers, engineers and scientists.
Synapse is envisioned as series of programs which will be accessible to young Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Opportunities to participate in health research programs will be created for elementary, middle and high school students, whether they live in downtown Toronto, the outskirts of Flin Flon, or the Tsuu T'ina Reserve.
By engaging the private and nongovernmental sectors, Synapse will allow young people to interact with real scientists in the places where health research happens, be it in a university laboratory, a teaching hospital, or a pharmaceutical company. By breaking down the barriers and the stereotypes which surround science and research, Synapse will foster an interest in young Canadians which will create a lifelong passion for investigation and discovery.
The first Synapse activities have already begun, perhaps taking place in your city or town, or involving a student that you know. Through Synapse and our partners in youth engagement, the CIHR was involved in the Canada-Wide Science Fair, and the Sanofi-Aventis Biotech Challenge. Hundreds of students from across Canada were given the opportunity to create their own experiments and do their own research through these two events, and many of them opted to investigate health-related topics. Through a fun and rewarding health research experience, Synapse has helped create the next generation of Canadian innovators.
While the science fairs were taking place in larger cities, Synapse was bringing health research to rural, remote and Aboriginal Canadians. Through our partnership with ACTUA Day Camps, Synapse is engaging Native Canadian youth by creating a tailored experience involving native scientists, elders and communities. These day camps, which take place on reserves throughout Canada, allow students to be involved in health research experiences they don't have access to everyday, while creating a bridge between Western science and Native traditions. Through these unique programs, Synapse is helping lay the groundwork necessary for the knowledge based economy to move into rural Canada.
Of course, the CIHR cannot effectively engage all aspiring scientists in Canada; our partners in the private and nongovernmental sector are essential to the success of Synapse. Through the CIHR/STIHR Youth Mentorship Initiative, an attempt is being made to engage more CIHR funded researchers and experts in youth activities. By funding organizations and events which link experts and young people, by establishing best practices in youth engagement, and by fostering new networks and partnerships, Synapse is constantly opening up new doors for young Canadians who wish to explore health research fields. Whether through laboratory internships, school visits, or summer camps, the CIHR aims to create a hands-on health research experience for any and all interested students.
It is impossible to understate the value of health research in our society, or to exaggerate the significance and value of the data and information it generates. By encouraging SRT literacy and creating health research opportunities for young Canadians, the CIHR hopes to use Synapse to solidify Canada's place as a world leader in both health research and research and design. Doing so will not only lead to a more prosperous and competitive future for Canada, but to a healthier one as well.
