Science 101
The Faculty of Science seeks to educate not only undergraduate and graduate students, but also to reach out to our other communities. We aim to include, inspire and motivate learners inside and outside the University.
One example of our inclusive approach to learning is the Science 101 program. This is a four month, non-credit, barrier free course offered to residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and other inner-city communities. This special program provides an introductory science education in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth and ocean science and physics. It is open to individuals who have historically had difficulty in accessing a formal university education. There are no course fees and no pre-requisite knowledge is required.
The courses are taught by UBC professors and graduate students who freely volunteer their time and expertise. It is interesting that the operating costs for this program have for the most part been covered by UBC Science Alumni of all ages and from across all our nine Departments. Our Alumni have generously offered their collective financial support through the Annual Giving fund raising appeal.
Science 101 has the ability to transform lives. A recent immigrant to Canada from the Middle East wrote in her bursary application
“Science 101 created a good opportunity for me to travel quickly through the world of science and get familiar to the facts that were so ambiguous to me…I understand that life is a complicated maze, but there is always a path to success… Also, I believe that there is a pre-requisite for everything in life. For what I want to do, the pre-requisite is education. This is what I am seriously committed to.”
In addition to Science 101, the Faculty has many other opportunities for our community to engage with its diverse offerings. Children and adults are invited to visit the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, the Pacific Museum of the Earth, and the UBC Botanical Garden. The latter includes the acclaimed Nitobe Memorial Garden. There are frequent and regular lectures on a wide range of topics sponsored by our departments and affiliated institutes with many of these being open and free to the public.
Because of their formative University experiences, many alumni are keen to stay involved and give back to the University in a myriad of ways. One such UBC alumnus is Abdul Ladha, BASc ‘87 & recipient of the “Great Trekker award”. This award exemplifies giving back to the student experience. Abdul and his wife Hanifa’s remarkable generosity, along with a levy from all UBC Science undergraduate students, the VP Students, and the Dean of Science, led to the creation of the Abdul Ladha Science Student Centre. This social space encourages both informal and organized academic and social activities and interactions for students enrolled in UBC Science. This centre is an indispensable tool in helping to enhance the Science student’s academic experience while at UBC.
