The Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) and LEAD Canada have formed a partnership to deliver a Big Data Summer Camp program designed to enhance educational opportunities for local students.

The NII LEAD Canada Big Data Summer Camp will focus on the natural analytical abilities and information-gathering practices of the data-savvy generation. The target group is Grade 11 and 12 students who are interested in building their leadership and critical-thinking skills at a time when they are making decisions about their future occupation and learning.

The Big Data Summer Camp is a two-week program that will run from August 19–30 at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre, and will focus on using Big Data techniques, team building, and self-awareness to develop and propose local solutions to global challenges. It will also include day trips to local industries, presentations from leaders in our communities, and wrap up with a Graduation Ceremony.

Partners in the delivery of the two-week program include the STEM Fellowship and Trinity Theatre with support from the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, the Walkerton Clean Water Centre and local school boards.

“The NII is pleased to form this partnership and provide enhanced education opportunities for our local youth. This is a unique opportunity for the Bruce, Grey and Huron region to be a global host in delivering a program that focuses on the next generation of innovators with exciting educational, career and learning opportunities close to home,” said Frank Saunders, President of the Nuclear Innovation Institute. “We want the youth in our region to have access to experts in developing leadership skills with the ability to solve global challenges locally through applied research and training in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the trades.”

A partnership with LEAD Canada to deliver a Big Data Summer Camp program supports the NII’s key objective of promoting and supporting advanced education for our youth and establishing the NII as a hub for innovative collaboration, able to build a talent pool of continuous learning that fosters creative and dynamic thinking.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for our local youth,” said Mitch Twolan, Bruce County Warden. “Through team building, leadership, self-awareness and Big Data problem-solving techniques, students will be able to develop and propose solutions to globally-significant challenges that impact our region – whether it is in energy development and distribution, agriculture production and distribution, or the social and environmental resiliency of our rural communities.”

“We want to ensure our rural youth have all the advantages of urban areas. The NII-LEAD Canada Big Data Leadership Summer camp is a unique opportunity to link rural youth to innovative global initiatives in leadership, indigenous cultural awareness, and Big Data techniques,” said Dan Gieruszak, President LEAD Canada. “To be global leaders in the 21st century, we need new levels of collaboration between elementary, secondary and post-secondary education, trades, and entrepreneurs. Our next generation of innovators and leaders need to know it can achieve contributions of global significance close to home.”

Registration is now open. Interested participants can register at www.leadcanada.ca

source: media release, Nuclear Innovation Institute