Sharing her passion for science with elementary and high school youth helped to remind Michelle Bondy why she loved the subject in the first place. Now she is hoping to spread that enthusiasm with the help of student volunteers from the University of Windsor.

A UWindsor biology grad (BSc 2009), Bondy is outreach program coordinator for the Faculty of Science, and has started recruiting for Let’s Talk Science, which offers free hands-on activities to engage children in science, technology, engineering and math.

“I’m currently looking to recruit outreach volunteers—both undergraduate and graduate students—as well as educators who would be interested in having us visit their classrooms or community groups,” she says. “The program is designed to complement the classroom curriculum, but we can also do everything from judge a science fair to speak at a career day.”

Windsor is the 39th site for the national program; Bondy participated while a student at Western University in London.

“I wanted to bring this program to UWindsor for the many benefits to the University and the Windsor-Essex community,” she says. “I know from my own experience that student outreach volunteers will make connections with local educators and strengthen their science communication skills, while having a lot of fun doing science activities and demonstrations.”

Volunteers will be participating in Science Rendezvous on May 11, and other events through the spring and summer. Starting in the fall, volunteers will work with educators in classrooms with kids from kindergarten to Grade 12. Depending on the strengths and expertise of the volunteers, activities can cover any number of science topics from biology and chemistry to earth sciences, engineering, forensics and computer science.

For more information about Let’s Talk Science or to sign up as a volunteer, contact Bondy at mbondy@uwindsor.ca, or 519-253-3000 ext. 3730.