By Cheryl Jahn

New week-long program at UNBC targets high school students

Jun 24, 2024 | 2:09 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – There are labs scattered all around the UNBC campus. It is a research-intensive university, after all. And is one of the labs where some eager young minds will be spending a week of intense so-called “training.” And getting into the SPARK Discovery program is not easy.

“What we do in the application form is ask them to answer a few questions about their interests,” explains Chinchu Cherian, Organizer of the SPARK, Discovery program. “We ask them to submit an expression of interest.”

Graduate students will be overseeing the young minds in the various labs. In this case, the chemistry lab is Maduabuchi Modum’s theatre.

“If they start from high school to learn about chemistry, to see what chemistry can do in their lives. And science as a whole they will develop more interest in chemistry. And you have more interest in chemistry, you like what you do.”

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Down in the physics lab, lazers are part of the fun.

“I’ve had a lot of enjoyment and fulfilment in my role in physics in the past couple of years,” says Physics Graduate Student Teigan O’Carroll. “I have been at UNBC since 2017 for physics. And I want to help other students get enjoyment.”

“Basically that’s mostly what we specialize in down at our lab downtown,” says Optics Graduate StudentLucas Bergen. “It’s called terahertz which lies between infrared radiation and microwave radiation, like you would get out of a microwave. We have abunch of cameras that help see it in this range. So looking at the optics, it can help shape the light in this range.

Ten or twelve students will be chosen for this event, but the call for applications is still open. Friday is the latest the students can apply for the program.