Province Helping Young Women Explore Career Opportunities

More Nova Scotia young women will have the opportunity to learn about career opportunities and meet role models in the science, trades, and technology professions thanks to a $60,000 investment in the Techsploration program by the Department of Energy.

"Young women make up more than half of Nova Scotia's available workforce, so helping ensure that there is a diverse workforce in the energy sector is important," said Energy Minister Bill Dooks. "This investment will also help young women learn more about career opportunities in Nova Scotia."

The Techsploration program is administered by a not-for-profit group called Techsploration. The group works within the school system to provide young women with opportunities to explore their careers options. Each year, the program hosts a number of events for students in grades 9 to 12, particularly for young women in Grade 9 who meet role models and tour work sites. The program is offered in 17 schools across the province and provides opportunities for hundreds of young women, as well as young men, to learn more about science, trade, and technology career choices. Many of the schools that participate in the program are in rural communities, including three First Nations schools and an Acadian school. Eight more schools are being added to the program in the 2006-07 school year. The additional funding from the Department of Energy will make it possible for more students to participate.

In addition to the financial investment, the Energy department also has a staff member active in the program as a mentor and judge of the Techsplorers event. Kim Doane, a petroleum geologist and environmental co-ordinator with the department, said volunteering with the program is an excellent way to give young women an opportunity to explore different career paths and hear from role models who enjoy their professions.

"I continue to volunteer with the Techsploration program because it's been an excellent forum to introduce young women to exciting opportunities and workplace roles," said Ms. Doane. "It also helps stress the importance of high school math and science courses so these young students don't limit their career choices."

"At the recent Techsploration Alumnae Conference, one young woman expressed an interest in becoming a petroleum geologist after she met Ms. Doane," said Tricia Robertson, executive director of Techsploration. "This is just one of many examples that highlight the importance of role models and the impact of Techsploration on young people throughout the province."

Launched in 1999, Techsploration is a joint initiative of the Nova Scotia Community College, the apprenticeship training and skill development division of the Department of Education, and Women in Trades and Technology Nova Scotia.

The program currently has 17 corporate, government and industry association sponsors. More than half of them represent the energy sector.