Youth Science Canada announces today the appointment of Melina Found to the newly created role of Youth STEM Project Development Director. Working closely with YSC staff, volunteers and partners at the local level, Melina will lead the development and implementation of YSC’s National Youth STEM Project Development Initiative, a national program to ensure that Canadian youth have the inspiration, resources and support required to complete their STEM projects.

“We’re pleased to welcome Melina to the organization and count on her leadership and support to help us launch this much needed national initiative,” says Reni Barlow, executive director of Youth Science Canada.

Each year, more than 500,000 students across Canada undertake a STEM project. Only a fraction – some 25,000 – end up participating in regional or national fairs. Funded by grants from NSERC PromoScience and the Trottier Family Foundation, the National Youth STEM Project Development Initiative will aim to keep all youth, primarily in grades 7-12/Cégep, engaged in their STEM projects. The program will also set out to encourage new students to get in on the STEM project action.

“Since our founding in 1962, we’ve been working closely with finalists at the Canada-Wide Science Fair,” says Barlow. “Through our National Youth STEM Project Development Initiative, we’re setting a new course that focuses on the students who don’t yet have a project as well as those that need support to continue.”

Found joins YSC after six years with 4-H Canada, where one of her many contributions was developing and delivering a national youth STEM program and fair. With a solid background in project management, Melina has also designed and implemented various programs that support STEM education.

“I am excited to join Youth Science Canada in this new role,” says Found. “YSC has a unique mission and vision and I am happy to be able to join this organization to help create change and empower youth through STEM initiatives.”

 

About Youth Science Canada
Established in 1962, Youth Science Canada fuels the curiosity of Canadian youth through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) projects. We work to ensure that Canadian youth have the capacity and skills to generate and answer questions and identify and solve problems. The not-for-profit also engages leading public and private sector organizations in the development of a national STEM network of Canadian youth. For more information, please visit https://staging.youthscience.ca/

For more information:
Samiha Farha
Torchia Communications
samiha@torchiacom.com
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