Red Hot Science Receives Grant to Grow Dual Credit Programming

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has been awarded a three-year PromoScience grant by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) valued at $162,000.  

This grant will help RDP grow the impact of its Red Hot Science outreach program by offering more land camps to Indigenous high school students. Additionally, the grant will enhance dual credit opportunities, enabling Indigenous high school students to earn both high school and post-secondary credits through the newly created land-based Indigenous Perspectives and Science course that integrates Indigenous knowledge and traditions. These initiatives aim to create a seamless path for Indigenous students to pursue studies at Red Deer Polytechnic while honouring their cultural heritage. 

The Four Seasons land camps, which have engaged 50 Indigenous youth, blend land-based teachings such as fish leather tanning and food preservation with opportunities to create digital stories capturing their year-long journeys. The Aunties in Training program, attended by 40 Indigenous girls, addresses the unique challenges they face through a curriculum guided by Indigenous women leaders. Both camps are led by Elders, Knowledge Keepers, educators and Red Deer Polytechnic faculty and staff, creating enriching experiences.

The camps are among many programs offered through RDP’s Red Hot Science, coordinated by Pamela Neumann, RDP instructor. Other programming includes customizable hands-on activities for youth enrolled in kindergarten to grade 12 within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) subject areas. Led by RDP instructors, examples of programming include providing students with opportunities to create simple coding, building robots and enhancing their digital skills. In addition, youth can perform experiments in RDP’s Biology, Chemistry and Physics labs. The Red Hot Science program’s workshops, field trips, clubs, camps and community events provide STEM learning opportunities for more than 5,000 youth from across central Alberta each year.

“The Red Hot Science program highlights the breadth of programming offered by RDP to people of all ages,” says Lindsay Engel, Vice President, Academic and Student Experience, at Red Deer Polytechnic. “Through this NSERC grant, even more youth will be able to explore their interest in STEM. Red Hot Science creates programming that sparks interest in post-secondary education, allowing these future leaders to contribute their knowledge and skills to high-demand careers in Alberta and further abroad.”

RDP is excited to partner with Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools to offer this dual credit programming to Indigenous students across multiple school divisions. This partnership embodies RDP's commitment to fostering meaningful educational opportunities that empower Indigenous youth.

For more information, visit rdpolytech.ca/redhotscience.