Geering Up receives 2019 Actua Experience Award

Updated June 24, 2022

Editors note: Since this article was published in 2019, Gearing Up has been diversifying and expanding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, online programming was launched so that BC youth could access STEM. Now, Gearing Up resources are available anywhere, anytime. 

UBC Geering Up Engineering Outreach, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting science, engineering and technology among children and youth in British Columbia, has been awarded the 2019 Actua Experience Award – Go Where Kids Are.

Administered by Actua, a national charity of which Geering Up is a member, the award recognizes the achievements of one of its member organizations within Actua’s Go Where Kids Are program, which aims to provide STEM initiatives to “new Canadians, at-risk youth and other youth populations facing socio-economic challenges.”

In 2019, Geering Up delivered over 250 in-school workshops, after-school clubs and camps to more than 5,600 students in nine underprivileged communities in BC, from Surrey to Gold River. The organization works closely with schools, school boards, family services organizations and other partners to reach groups that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM disciplines.

Through science and engineering projects, demonstrations, design challenges and lab tours, Geering Up seeks to “empower youth to believe in their STEM skills, increasing their likelihood to pursue a career in STEM despite socioeconomic barriers.”

Geering Up accepted its honour at Actua's annual awards event last week.

Learn More

To get up-to-date information on Gearing Up's initiatives, visit their website.