Summer 2024 course selections will be posted in February. Sign up for our newsletter to receive email notifications about our programs.
Our Spark Lab Programs are week-long sessions designed for students in grades 9 to 12 who want more hands-on science. Using experiment-based learning, students explore physics, biology, chemistry and coding through lab work. Escape the traditional classroom and learn science by doing science.
The Spark Lab Program is an open-enrollment program. Registration can be completed online and is on a first-come-first-served basis.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Grade Level
Grades 9-12.
Dates
Weekly from July 2 to August 2, 2024
Time
9:30am to 3:30pm
Pricing
TBD
Summer 2023 Course Schedule
Courses fall under the following streams: Experimental and Research.
Experimental Spark courses are developed and delivered by undergraduate/graduated students, Teacher Candidates, or Ontario Certified Teachers through hands-on, interactive, and innovative activities.
Research Spark courses are developed and delivered by graduate students and/or Professors and are based on the research they are doing at York.
Dates marked with an asterisk (*) are 4-day weeks.
Date: July 4 to 7, 2023*
Grade: 9 to 11
Description: Biodiversity refers to every living thing on Earth and of the estimated 8.7 million species that exist on our planet, over 80% have yet to be discovered. Biodiversity is vital to all life, it provides us with clean air, fresh water, pollination, regulates pests and disease, and so much more. Have you ever wondered why bees are so important or what is coral bleaching and why does it matter? In this course, students will learn what biodiversity is, why it's important, the impact of human activities on biodiversity, and what we can do to conserve it.
Date: July 10 to 14, 2023
Grade: 9 to 11
Description: If you're interested in solving mysteries with the help of science, then learn how to become a Forensic Scientist as we explore all facets of forensic investigations. Students will be faced with challenging questions and scenarios to discover what happened at the crime scene, what evidence is there, and who is the perpetrator. Students will uncover evidence and learn investigative techniques including how to dust for fingerprints, DNA analysis, examine blood splatter, footwear and tire tread impressions and more. Solve our most interesting puzzles and delve into the mind of an investigator by processing a crime scene at York University.
Note: This is a repeat course offered in Summer 2022.
Date: July 17 to 21, 2023
Grade: 9 to 11
Description: With the realization that we cannot understand biology without understanding its physical phenomena, interest in the field of biophysics has been growing rapidly. Many biological and medical problems involve techniques and concepts of physics, from laser therapy to clinical tools such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Biophysicists are working to develop new or improved techniques of imaging, diagnosis, and analysis in order to further their explorations of this field. Are you interested in how the building blocks of biology fit together? Maybe you want to build an instrument that can rapidly identify infections or diagnose or track the progression of disease? Learn about the growing field of biophysics and its applications in medicine.
Date: July 31 to August 4, 2023
Grade: 9 to 11
Description: It has becoming increasingly important for young scientists to not only be aware of issues concerning our health and environment, but to be informed in how these issues have been created and what solutions we can create for a healthier future. We will explore fundamental skills in chemical analysis to study how the smallest components of matter have a big effect on the living world. Identify contaminants in the environment, investigate how they arrived in a location, and the impact they may have on the ecosystems.
Date: July 4 to 7, 2023*
Grade: 10 to 12
Description: If you're interested in science and culinary, then join us to discover the scientific principles behind food and cooking! How do preservatives work? What makes pop fizzy? Is it possible to create ice cream that doesn't melt? Students in this course will learn about the physical and chemical transformations that occurs when preparing food including spherification, emulsification, pyrolysis, carbonic maceration, and more.
Date: July 24 to 28, 2023
Grade: 10 to 12
Description: From the analysis of urban air samples and quality control for processed foods to roadside breathalyzer tests and evidence used in criminal trials, analytical chemistry is a very important and useful branch of chemistry! Chromatography, gravimetric analysis, mass spectrometry, and titrations are some of the analytical techniques students will be exploring over the course of a week. Students will be challenged to think like an analytical chemist as they learn about and work with each step of the analytical process, starting from developing hypotheses and sampling, and concluding with the analysis and examination of data. This course is recommended for those taking senior science courses and for those who want to improve their scientific writing skills.
Date: July 31 to August 4, 2023
Grade: 10 to 12
Description: Microbes may be invisible to the naked eye, but they make up a large component of the world - including us! While microbes like bacteria are often associated with infection or illness, there are a lot of good bacteria that are essential to life. What roles do they have in the human body? How do certain microbes cause infectious diseases? What's the difference between "good" and "bad" bacteria? Join us to uncover the biological secrets at the microscopic level. Students in this course will use different microbiological techniques to learn about microorganisms and how they impact the world around us.
Date: July 10 to 14, 2023
Grade: 10 to 12
Description: The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti is a known vector for pathogens that cause a number of blood-borne diseases, such as Zika virus, Dengue, and chikungunya. This course examines the importance of mosquito physiological processes, underlying cellular mechanisms, and neuroendocrine factors that regulate critical processes, such as feeding, excretion and reproduction. As a result, students can engage themselves in neuroendocrinology through this hands-on approach to learning. Students will be able to dissect mosquitos to examine the different tissues, run DNA gels for receptor localization, and conduct experiments to measure fluid secretion rates. Understanding the biology of the mosquito will allow for better analysis for new medical advances and research for future vaccinations against a host of deadly illnesses.
About the Instructors:
Farwa Sajadi is currently completing her PhD at York University, examining the effects of neuroendocrine factors on diuresis/anti-diuresis in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Since attending York University, Farwa has been involved in many recruitment events such as University Fairs and Fall/Spring Open Houses. She has worked for the Faculty of Science for many years, working as a Science Academic Advisor and a Science Recruitment Assistant. Since starting her graduate studies, Farwa has been a teaching assistant and laboratory coordinator in multiple undergraduate biology courses. Her passion for animal physiology and research has grown stronger since studying at York, which has allowed her to expand her skills. As an NSERC and the Richard Jarrell Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, she aspires to pursue research to further develop working experience and engage herself in the animal physiology stream, hoping to one day perhaps achieve new breakthroughs.
Britney Picinic graduated from York University with an Honours Bachelor degree in Biology before moving on to a PhD at York University. Her research currently focuses on the effects of neuroendocrine factors and diet on water channel proteins in the disease vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Although new to Spark, Britney has participated in several events held at York University, such as the York Region Science and Technology Fair and the Science Engagement Program. Britney has also been a teaching assistant for several years in second and third year undergraduate biology courses. In addition, she has also been the lab coordinator for a second year undergraduate animal physiology course. Britney has a passion and dedication for teaching young students about biology and furthering the current knowledge on mosquito physiology through her research.
Date: July 17 to 21, 2023
Grade: 11 to 12
Description: Are you curious about how medications are discovered, produced, and how they work in our bodies? In the Pharmaceutical Chemistry course, you will learn answers to these and many other interesting questions about common medicines like Tylenol or Pepto Bismol and more complex drugs that treat heart disease, cancer, and viral and bacterial infections. In addition to classroom lectures and discussions of these topics, students partaking in the course will gain hands-on experience working with several drugs in a chemical laboratory performing their synthesis and analysis. Students will also explore the structure of the drugs and how they interact with their targets using Virtual Reality (VR) technology. By the end of the course, the participants will have learned several interesting examples, methods and techniques used in modern pharmaceutical chemistry and have learned the foundations of drug action in the human body.
Instructors: Chemistry Professors Kyle Belozerov and Derek Jackson. Dr. Belozerov holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Georgia (USA) and teaches a variety of chemistry and biology courses at York University. His research interests include drug discovery, protein structure, and enzyme engineering. He is passionate about exploring molecular structures with his students and has designed many immersive and engaging classroom activities using Virtual Reality (VR) technology. Dr. Jackson earned his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Toronto where he focused on environmental and analytical chemistry. He is a passionate science educator interested in developing new teaching methods and laboratory activities for Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry courses. Drs. Belozerov and Jackson recently received a Minister's Award of Excellence for their work in science education.
Date: July 24 to 28, 2023
Grade: 9 to 11
Description: The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster genome contains 14,000 genes, and about 60% of those genes are related to human diseases. Considering that humans and the fruit fly are very similar, the fruit fly is often used as a model organism to study human physiological systems. This course will examine how genetics influence physiological systems such as the neuroendocrine system that regulates the excretory organs of the insect similar to the mammalian kidney. Students will explore techniques, including the powerful genetic tool called the bipartite GAL4/UAS system that is used to express or knockdown genes in a tissue/cell-specific manner in the fruit fly. In addition, students will also dissect fruit flies to complete bioassays to measure urine secretion from the insect excretory system, along with physiological assays that can measure the percent survival from changes in genetics. This course will provide insight into how genetics influences the function of physiological systems for species to maintain homeostasis.
About the Instructor: Marishia Agard is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Biology in the Paluzzi lab at York University. Marishia's research focuses on invertebrate neuroendocrinology on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster to provide insight into the human renal function and diseases. Marishia has also obtained an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science at York University. During that time, she completed an honour thesis project that utilized molecular, genetic, and physiological techniques to identify a neuropeptide hormone in the fruit fly. Marishia has experience in teaching lab techniques and STEM activities for the Science Engagement Programs by working as a science camp instructor, camp counsellor, and mentor. Marishia is now an aspiring PhD student passionate about animal physiology research and teaching students.
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