GEOLOGISTS IN THE CLASSROOMS: AS TEACHERS, NOT STUDENTS

Thirteen years ago, a group of people (mostly geologists) came together to found Scientists in the Schools (SITS), based in Halifax. Since then SITS has evolved into the Atlantic Science Links Association (ASLA), a charitable organization that co-ordinates volunteer-based educational projects. ASLA's goal is to help school students become better informed, and hopefully more excited, about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. ASLA's projects include - in addition to the Speakers Bureau, which was SITS' original project - a Climate Change workshop and curriculum materials, activity packages for National Science and Technology Week, Science Connection events in shopping centres, and a web site containing an Ask-A-Scientist web page.

ASLA's paid staff has never been more than one full time and one part time member with salaries paid through a variety of fundraising initiatives over the years - a struggle which continues. SITS has been fortunate in having up to 350 volunteers, who give their time to visit schools without even compensation for out-of-pocket expenses. These dedicated volunteers make over 300 classroom visits, reaching over 8000 students each year, throughout Nova Scotia. The volunteers cover the complete range of science and technology. Nonetheless, one of the teachers' major requests is still for speakers about aspects of geology. As Earth Scientists, it is part of our challenge to remain involved and try to help convert a child's interest in a handful of shiny rocks into an interest in how the world works.