Founded in 2016 by a group of visionary graduate students, the Discovery program has been a beacon of collaborative education, focusing on enhancing critical thinking skills among high school students through the lens of biomedical engineering. Initially a small initiative under the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Discovery has grown tremendously, now partnering with three Toronto District School Board (TDSB) schools, with a fourth joining next year. The program boasts 29 educators, over 1,700 high school student participants, and more than 200 undergraduate and graduate volunteers from various disciplines.

Discovery runs two terms annually: Fall (October – January) and Spring (April – June). Each term includes three full days of on-campus programming in UofT’s engineering undergraduate lab spaces, including the Biomedical Engineering Teaching Lab, Chemical Engineering labs, and the Myhal Fabrication Facility, under the mentorship of graduate student volunteers.

The program begins with a Skill Lab Day, where students learn lab protocols. Students then tackle open-ended engineering problems, developing proposals and conducting experiments or prototypes. The term concludes with a symposium where students present their scientific posters. Sample projects include: assessing the role of DNA degradation on forensic profiling accuracy; creating and testing anti-oily hair shampoo formulations; and designing and testing a lower limb prosthetic.

Discovery is seamlessly integrated into the high school science curriculum, with program deliverables accounting for 10-15% of students’ final grades. The program is cost-free for students, enabling greater access to advanced educational resources. Discovery also contributes to educational research, presenting and publishing outcomes related to student and volunteer development.

Discovery was one of the 2020 recipients for the Access Programs University Fund (APUF) and has since been awarded an additional grant in 2022 from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). ASPO commends Discovery on its continued success and look forward to seeing the next chapter.

For more information and updates about Discovery, please visit their website and follow them on X, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Interested in volunteering? Sign up through their mailing list.

December 12, 2024