Looking for a productive and fun way to spend summer this year? The University of Alberta offers its W.I.S.E.S.T. (Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science, and Technology) Summer Research program. This program exposes Grade 11 students to first-hand research experience at the University of Alberta as paid research assistants, and although the title of the program fails to mention so, the program is for both males and females.
The most unique part of this program is its aim to provide students with the opportunity to experience a job area that is less common for their gender. Female students experience research in the areas of science and engineering, whereas male students gain exposure to the areas of Nursing, Human Ecology and Nutrition. This is a program that truly aims at liberating students from the traditional and cultural restraints present in modern society in terms of job choices for certain genders, and opens a whole new dimension for career paths that students can pursue.
The program runs for six weeks from July 4 to Aug 15. Entrance into this program is extremely competitive with a minimum entrance requirement of an average of 85% in all Grade 11 math and science courses. More information on the program and details in applying can be found on http://www.wisest.ualberta.ca/Programs/SummerResearchProgram.aspx.