Not everyone is going to grow up looking for a career in science. Last week at Discovery Days at the University of Alberta  however, there were about 250 high school students who at least had science on their career radar. Discovery Days are organized across Canada by the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame to give students a chance to poke around a medical school, listen to a variety of presentations, and maybe get some ideas on next steps in their career choices. They generally come to Discovery Days because they want to - not because they are told to.
If you could drawn anything from the reaction in the Bernard Snell Hall, the speaker who opened the day in  Edmonton on October 22^nd most certainly whetted their appetite for medical career. Dr. Jonathan White even had  me remembering my student days and career choices and how they may have been changed by hearing someone like him. ( Organic Chem and a few other things may have got in the way I must admit ). Dr. White spoke from the heart about growing up in Ulster, meeting the childhood sweetheart who would eventually become his wife, deciding on a medical career, and ending up in Edmonton. He was honest with the kids about the hours, the challenges, the pride in knowing you're doing something worthwhile and useful, and the emotions that come with losing a patient on the operating table.

Discovery Days put young people squarely into the world of science - even if it is only for a day.
A recent I Am Biotech podcast  on biotech education suggested that to raise student's interest in science we need to get the scientists into the classrooms so they can be seen as a role model. Dr. White probably wouldn't have the time to hit the high school circuit but anyone with a similar level of committment would be equally engaging. ( a wonderful Irish accent and corresponding story telling gift is a bonus ).  It also helps that kids are actually interested in science.
The I Am Biotech podcast suggested that they are interested in DNA for instance. TV has got them hooked on the forensic use of genetics and the use of genetics in paternity questions. ( a whole other discussion I'd venture to say) The industrial use of bacteria appeals to them but they can get past the flash to see the role of genomics in environmental studies and cancer research. If we can find a way to bring the likes of Dr. White and Dr.Guido van Marle from the University of Calgary Discovery Day event, together with the fascination that is already lurking under the surface in our schools we have a crack at turning interest into action. A generaton raised with computers, social media and who are living with exponential growth in science advancement have the potential to harness what today's researchers are only just discovering.
These young science wanna-bees though, are still kids andafter listening to scientists, researchers, and medical professionals, Dr. White's closing remarks need to be woven into the education equation.
He quoted from that famous philospher, Ferris Bueller:
" Life moves pretty fast. If you don't look around once in awhile, you'll miss it."

Here are a few pictures from the Edmonton Discovery Day held on October 22^nd. For pictures for the Calgary event including the announcement for the latest inductees into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame,  visit us on Picasa at http://picasaweb.google.com/MikesGene/DiscoveryDaysCalgary