Operation Minerva
2024

Operation Minerva

Connecting girls and gender-diverse students in grades 8 & 9 to mentors in STEAM.

"You can't be what you can't see."

- Marian Wright Edelman, civil rights and children’s rights activist

Increasing the diversity of voices in the sciences.

Operation Minerva is a mentoring series aimed at inspiring girls and gender diverse students in grades 8–9 to feel a sense of belonging in the worlds of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).

Through networking, story-sharing, team challenges and site visits with a diverse group of mentors, students will be able to envision their own future journeys in STEAM disciplines and build a community of people to share those journeys with. Specific focus will be placed on recruiting mentors and students who are from groups generally underrepresented in STEAM.

Curriculum enhanced by this experience:

  • Science – career possibilities within science-related fields
  • Career and technology foundations

Operation Minerva is part of Spark's education programs, offering dynamic learning opportunities that can go beyond the curriculum.

The cost of this program is $11 per student.

Please email [email protected] for more information.

THE SCHEDULE

Friday, November 24, 2023 (PD Day)

  • Focus: a half-day meet and greet with students and mentors.
  • Location: TELUS Spark Science Centre (Learning Centre and galleries).

Week of February 5, 2024

  • Focus: careers and mentoring. This job shadowing experience coincides with International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11, 2024).
  • Location: various mentor workplaces. 

Saturday, March 9, 2024

  • Focus: a design challenge to build stronger connections between students and mentors. This experience coincides with International Women’s Day (March 9).
  • Location: TELUS Spark Science Centre.

The science doesn't stop here!

For for info on science programs for students please subscribe to Spark's email list, or discover more student-focused programming.

Subscribe Virtual Programs