About Us

Scientists in School is a leading national science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education charity that annually inspires over 700,000 children and youth in Canada to be confident in STEM, build critical thinking skills, heighten their interest in STEM careers, and dream of a future they perhaps never thought possible – until they became scientists during one of our workshops.

Serving All of Canada

Our online STEM enrichment workshops are available across Canada. At this time, on-site workshops are being offered in select regions only: Toronto, Peel, Durham, York, Guelph, Ottawa, and Calgary. Explore our interactive map to discover classroom workshops offered in your province or territory. To explore community workshops offered in your province, click here.

What We Do

Since 1989, over 10 million children in Canada have been transformed into scientists in our hands-on classroom and community workshops. Led by dynamic presenters who are experts in their fields, and with plentiful scientific materials placed in the hands of young scientists, our curriculum-enhancing workshops enrich learning and bring real-world science and engineering into the hands of budding scientists. Sparking curiosity and confidence in children so that they feel empowered to say, “I can be a scientist!” is at the core of every Scientists in School workshop.

Our Mission

Scientists in School ignites scientific curiosity in children so that they question intelligently; learn through discovery; connect scientific knowledge to their world; are excited about science, technology, engineering and math; and have their interest in careers in those fields piqued.

Our Vision

Our vision is for all children in Canada to be actively engaged in the seeing, doing and understanding of science. Our next generation deserves the opportunity to view science and technology as fun, relevant and something that every one of us – even the smallest – can participate in here and now. When children appreciate the world scientifically, it turns existence into both a marvel and an opportunity to make something of that marvel.

Empowering Youth Through Equitable Access to Educational Enrichment

A prosperous and innovative Canada is one where every voice is represented in our workforce, research and scientific discoveries. In order to achieve this vision of a better, more inclusive STEM workforce in Canada, we must develop confidence and heighten critical thinking skills in our youngest citizens at an early age, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

We recognize that our user fee, which covers the costs of providing over 25,000 investigative workshops annually, presents a barrier for schools and organizations in under-resourced communities. In 2016, we deliberately strengthened our strategy to achieve a vision of no child being left behind. Together with our donors, we are working hard to ensure equitable access to our programming for all children through complimentary workshop initiatives, which include Adopt-a-School and our presenter-driven Erin Gladwell Memorial Fund. Currently over 30% of our program participants are in schools or community organizations serving under-resourced communities. This reflects a mixture of user-paid and complimentary workshops, but annually, we provide approximately 2,500 complimentary classroom and community workshops to schools and organizations such as newcomers groups, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Boys and Girls Clubs (BGC Canada) in marginalized communities.

Our Commitment to Equity

Our Impact

700,000+

Children and youth inspired through workshops annually

25,000+

Investigative workshops delivered annually

250,000+

Of the children we reach live in communities where they face barriers to educational enrichment, including low-income, Indigenous, rural, remote and newcomer communities.

10,000,000+

Young scientists inspired since 1989

Learn More About Our Impact

Workshop And Program Development

We pride ourselves in developing high-quality STEM enrichment workshops that empower children and youth, help them to understand the relevance of STEM in their world, and allow them to see themselves in science and STEM pathways, regardless of gender identification, ethnicity, academic success, disabilities, and other societal barriers to success.

Our team has years of experience in impactful workshop development and educational pedagogy, measurement and evaluation, workshop presenter and staff training, relationship building, and participant safety. We work hard from the outset to understand our customers’ core values, beliefs, and needs, and believe in the importance of collaboration to achieve the greatest impact for young scientists across Canada, especially those with fewer opportunities.

Learn More About Workshop Development

Annual Report

Our Annual Report highlights our impact, powerful stories from our alumni and workshop presenters, and demonstrates how our partners help us achieve our vision.