Iqaluit (February 6, 2009) – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Nunavut, addressed the value and excitement of studying science at a workshop for students at Aqsarniit Middle School in Iqaluit.  Minister Aglukkaq was joined by Dr. Cornelia Wieman, Canada’s first female Aboriginal psychiatrist and a member of the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

“Canada’s future lies in the knowledge-based economy. By learning science, you’re not only opening up your imagination, you’re opening up job opportunities,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “We want to help young Canadians who dream of becoming health researchers. That’s why we committed additional funding to support students pursuing graduate degrees in the health sciences in our universities.” The most recent federal budget provided CIHR with an additional $35 million to expand its Canada Graduate Scholarships program.

“We’ve learned over the years that, to create great scientists, we need to get kids excited about science at an early age,” said Dr. Wieman. “CIHR’s Synapse program makes science accessible to kids living in all parts of Canada – especially those living in rural or remote communities, who might not otherwise get this opportunity.”

The workshop was supported through CIHR’s youth engagement program called Synapse. The program creates a scientific junction – a synapse – by encouraging CIHR-funded researchers, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to teach young Canadians about the value of science and health research. Through the program, CIHR partners with non-profit organizations to provide education and hands-on training experience to students across Canada. Synapse mentors teach students through lab visits, instruction by computer, lectures at school or by acting as judges at science fairs. With its partner Actua, CIHR reaches Aboriginal youth in northern communities throughout Nunavut, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. In 2008, over 4,000 kids participated in hands on health research workshops delivered in 30 northern Canadian communities.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health-care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to nearly 12,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.