University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine hosts free Biomedical Youth Summer Camp

More than 220 Aboriginal, new Canadian and inner-city students will participate in hands-on science experiments and activities at the Faculty of Medicine’s week-long Biomedical Youth Summer Camp.

Students will conduct science experiments to detect cancer, study physiology of vision and sound, learn about soil analysis and geology in crime scene studies, learn about health care careers, and use hands-on simulation technology to replicate real-life medical conditions and procedures.

“The summer camp is one way in which the Faculty of Medicine is facilitating access to careers in medicine and biomedical research for aboriginal and inner-city youth, by making early contact with them,” said Francis Amara, biochemistry and medical genetics, and director, Biomedical Youth Program and Inner-City Science Centre.

This is the fourth annual free science camp offered by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba and is aimed at under-represented populations who would not normally have the opportunity to attend science camp. The camp, open to youth from ages 8 to 17, runs July 26-30, 2010 at the Bannatyne Campus.

Funding and sponsoring partners include: the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA); Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba; ANAK (a Filipino youth group); Career Trek; Alliance for the Equality of Blind Canadians; Centre for Aboriginal Health Education; Skowan First Nation; CSI (Community School Investigators, a group comprised of pre-service teachers who reach out to at-risk youth); NEEDS Inc.; Winnipeg School Division (WSD); and Maybrook Day Care.

Members of the media are invited to interview/film/record participants and University of Manitoba instructors at:

Faculty of Medicine Biomedical Youth Summer Camp
10:30 am, Wednesday, July 28 2010
Meet in Brodie Centre Atrium, 727 McDermot Ave.

For more information, contact Ilana Simon, director of communications & marketing, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, at: 204-789-3427 or cell: 204-295-6777.