Université Laval hosts the Quebec Indigenous Science Fair on the theme "Science in Action with First Peoples"

Quebec City, March 22, 2022 - From March 22 to 24, 2022, Université Laval is hosting the Quebec indigenous Science Fair (QASF) 2022. The event is organized in partnership with the Quebec Aboriginal Science and Engineering Association (QASEA). Many young scientists from a dozen communities and their mentors will participate in this virtual event.

On the theme «Science in action with First Peoples,» this scientific competition is aimed at students from grade 5 to high school from all First Peoples communities in Quebec.

For Université Laval, it is a tangible way to implement the Université Laval in Action with First Peoples plan. According to the Rector of Laval University, Sophie D'Amours, "the chosen theme corresponds to our desire to take concrete actions to work together with First Peoples and to redefine together the historical ties that unite us. Université Laval's most sincere desire is to maintain solid and lasting partnerships and to participate in the training of First People's members in an environment where each and every one of them will recognize themselves."

Committed First Peoples' Scientists
Twenty judges from various scientific disciplines will participate in the Quebec 2022 Indigenous Science Fair, many of whom are members of First Peoples. This diversified jury will evaluate the different projects. At the closing ceremony, up to four winners will be selected to represent the First Peoples of Quebec at the Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF), which will be presented in a virtual version from May 16 to 20, 2022. They will compete against the 500 best young Canadian scientists in high school and college.

"We want our young people to take their place in the sciences and the Quebec Indigenous Science Fair is a unifying event that motivates them to showcase their skills, knowledge and creativity in the scientific fields," said Marc Lalande,President and Treasurer of QASEA.  

Beyond the competition, the participants will also present their projects to the general public, who is invited to view the presentations of the young people's projects.  

About the Université Laval
University of impact, driven by innovation and the pursuit of excellence, Université Laval is one of Canada's leading research universities, ranking 7th in the country, with over$426 million in research funding last year. A leader in distance education, it boasts more than 1,650 professors as well as 2,300 lecturers and other academic and research staff who share their knowledge with some 55,000 students annually, 27% of whom are enrolled in graduate studies. The university values diversity and is proud of the members of its community, who hail from 130 countries. The oldest French-language university in North America, Université Laval has, to this day, educated more than 326,000 people who each contribute in their own way to the advancement of society. www.ulaval.ca  

About the Quebec Aboriginal Science and Engineering Association (AQASI) AQASI is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote science and engineering among Aboriginal youth attending schools located in First Nations and Inuit communities in Quebec. AQASI accomplishes its mission through the Quebec Indigenous Science Fair (ESA-Quebec) program, which allows young people to carry out a scientific popularization or experimentation process and to participate in the Quebec final of the ESA-Quebec, an event organized since 1998.