Experiential learning strengthens skills for future scientific leaders 

Honing skills in science communication

Dalhousie’s Faculty of Science provides diverse experiential learning opportunities, with exploration in many programs including science communication and co-op. The John Dingle Science Communication Internship is one of them. Now in its third year of operation, the 12-week, donor-funded summer internship welcomes four undergraduate science students interested in developing their science communication skills.

Caliyena Brown is a fourth-year marine biology and ecology student, who recently completed a science communication internship with the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), a global aquatic animal tracking, data management, and partnership platform headquartered at Dalhousie University. She is passionate about the impact of effective science communication.

“Without effective communication and knowledge translation, science would have a minor impact, whether in a scientific, academic, or casual setting. Throughout my academic career at Dalhousie, I have been able to practice this skill, which has helped me gain an appreciation for its significance in STEM fields,” says Brown.

This year, 70 science students applied for the internship, with four successful candidates matched with OTN, CREATE BioActives, the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and Inclusive Pathways to Medical Professions (IPMP). For Brown, the weeks spent working with OTN over the summer were a valuable way to gain practical experience in a new context.

“The internship allowed me to write about science in a real-world setting and target a non-academic audience, allowing me to hone this skill outside the classroom,” says Brown.

Experiential learning through co-op

Sara Lax is a second-year Master of Resource & Environmental Management (MREM) student with the School for Resource and Environmental Studies. She recently completed a co-op placement with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, a federal body accountable to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Before attending Dal, Lax completed an undergrad at the University of Victoria, studying environmental studies and geography. Last year, she moved east for Dal’s MREM program. “The East Coast seemed like such a natural fit. I love community and the ability to get to know your neighbours. Nova Scotia cultivates a sense of belonging – for people who grew up here and new residents,” says Lax.

During her first semester, Lax took Dr. Alana Westwood’s Environmental Impact Assessment class. “The class was very much applied. It’s about what the Agency is doing in Canada and how people can participate in impact assessments,” says Lax.

Over the past few months of her co-op placement, Lax had the opportunity to be involved in the regional assessment for offshore wind development in Nova Scotia. “I just happened to have the right timing to be a part of this process. The regional assessment focuses on developing a larger framework and set of recommendations about where offshore wind energy could occur, and how potential impacts on communities and the environment should be mitigated and monitored,” reflects Lax.

It’s experiences like these that make co-op learning, internships, and summer research such a popular undertaking among science students. With donor support for the Faculty of Science Experiential Learning and Equipment Fund, and the SRES Experiential Learning Fund, more students may be able to have these eye-opening, hands-on opportunities.

Impacting communities

Like Brown’s internship, Lax’s MREM co-op placement expanded her perspective on how, given the resources and opportunities, a student can have a positive impact on communities and society.

“I’ve been part of the secretariat, which is helping to inform and support research for an independent committee of experts. The committee provides recommendations to Federal and Provincial Ministers of the Environment on how offshore wind could be done in a responsible, respectful way that supports the socioeconomic and environmental goals of Nova Scotia and Canada.”

The lessons she has learned through her time with the agency and experiential learning at Dal are something she will take with her as she graduates and pursues a career in the field of resource and environmental management.

“Prior to my MREM program and this co-op experience, I didn’t fully appreciate the impact a student, a citizen, or a community member can have on impact assessments. I have enjoyed the opportunity to participate in a process that meaningfully engages community members and will contribute to renewable energy policy development in Atlantic Canada for years to come,” says Lax.