Since 2017 and during the spring of the year, the FOSTER Science Program has welcomed on-campus visits to Memorial University labs in the departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science for junior high and high school student groups and their teachers within the Avalon region. These on-campus opportunities are designed to enhance and support scientific teaching and learning within local classrooms using hands-on activities aligned with curriculum outcomes as outlined by NL Schools. The exact dates available for specific spring sessions are dependent on the winter and summer university semester end and start dates, respectively, each year.

Lab Visits

The objective of the Memorial University lab visits is to couple an experiential learning opportunity with classroom learning that has already taken place. The students are challenged with scientific exploration exercises and interactive demonstrations while interacting with undergraduate and graduate students and under the direction of seasoned laboratory instructors and professors. The departments within the Faculty of Science taking part in the FOSTER Science program aspire to make this opportunity available to as many teachers and students as possible by offering the program free of charge.

Junior High school Lab visits to the departments of Biology, Biochemistry, and Chemistry were the feature of a Memorial University Gazette article published in 2019.

In Spring 2025, we are excited to offer the following hands-on Science Lab Events. 

Biology

Human Biosciences (formerly Biochemistry)

Experience DNA analysis through examination of ancient DNA from a 13th –15th century family burial excavated from Gloucester, England in 1967. Will we be able to add to the knowledge by deciphering the eye colour of our family members? Students will prepare samples and run them using gel electrophoresis. Also, the students will be introduced to Forensic Anthropology while they wait for the gels to complete. 

Coming in 2026, analysis of Estrogen using spectroscopy – The students will be able to compile their own data which fits perfectly with regulating the human reproductive system in BIO3201. 

Please contact Emma Clemson (eclemson@mun.ca) to book your visit. 

Important Notice: Students should have completed or be currently enrolled in Biology 3201.

Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry invites you to join us to explore the use of chemical techniques in quality control processes.  Students will use relevant chemical techniques to isolate and measure the amount of iron from a cereal sample.  This highlights important wet chemistry bench techniques to isolate the iron from the cereal sample and then use spectrophotometric analytical chemistry techniques to measure the amount of iron.  These results will be compared to the Nutritional label of the cereal investigated as a measure of quality control for food products.   Students will enjoy the experience of learning new hands-on chemical techniques while being introduced to glassware and equipment they may not have used before.   We can’t wait to have you join us in the Chemistry Department as we work to train our local scientists.  Come join us!

Please contact Dr. Karen Hattenhauer (kepp@mun.ca) to book your visit.   

Important Notice: Students should have completed or be currently enrolled in 2202 (Grade 11 Chemistry)  

Computer Science

Check back soon for program description and dates!

Register today!

If you are interested in participating in any of these events, please email the program contacts noted above with the following information: 

• Name of school and teacher 

• Number of students 

• Name of session 

• Rank order of preference for dates that you would like to visit 

Please note: Sessions will be assigned on a first come first served basis.