About IISD-ELA MeDLEY 2024-2025

The IISD-ELA MeDLEY (Monitoring eDNA & Learning Ecology with Youth) program is an educational experience designed for Winnipeg students entering grades 11 and 12 who are wanting to expand their genetic and ecological knowledge. Over the course of the 2024/2025 school year, students will learn about environmental DNA (eDNA) and the processes required to collect, extract and analyze to determine the presence or absence of a species using genetics.

Students will be guided by ELA education staff, and world-renowned scientists and technicians from IISD-ELA. Students will meet once a month in person, and will be provided with transportation from a designated location, as well as food and snacks throughout the day. The majority of the course will be day trips on a Friday, with a potential for an overnight trip to the Experimental Lakes Area (just past Kenora, ON).

Each student will take responsibility for their own learning and must demonstrate personal integrity, independent leadership, and environmental stewardship at all times. There is zero tolerance for any behaviour that is not considered respectful and will lead to immediate termination from the program.

Interested students should tell us about themselves in an honest account, indicating their interest and commitment to the MeDLEY program, should they be selected. Selected students will have their listed teacher contacted.

Your responses to this application will be kept confidential.

IISD-Experimental Lakes Area is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustices and disadvantages in providing opportunities, we encourage students from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQ+.

The deadline to submit applications is Sunday, June 9th at 11:59 CST.

Question Title

* 1. Student's Contact Information

Question Title

* 2. Parent/Guardian's Information

Question Title

* 3. School Name

Question Title

* 4. Principal's Name

Question Title

* 5. Sponsoring Teacher

Question Title

* 6. Describe why you would like to be a participant in the MeDLEY program.

Question Title

* 7. What work or studies have you done in science, ecology, and/or sustainability? What projects, co-curricular activities, or volunteer work have you done that might prepare you for this experience? What books have you read that have honed your interest in science, ecology, and/or sustainability?

Question Title

* 8. MeDLEY has a heavy focus on genetics. What previous knowledge do you have in this field and what are you hoping to learn more about?

Question Title

* 9. Describe how participating in MeDLEY will benefit your long term aspirations (ie. University/College/future jobs).

Question Title

* 10. Describe an activity you have experienced that was related to nature and important to you. The activity could have been part of a high school course, a summer time or holiday experience, and either self-directed or a group activity. The more detail, the better!

Question Title

* 11. Consider the activity you described in question 10. Explain why this activity was important to you. What did this activity cause you think or learn about? What did it mean to you while you were doing it? What meaning does it have for you now, as you look back on it?

Question Title

* 12. What extra circulars are you currently part of through or outside of school? (Example: clubs, sports, junior achievers, dance, art, green team at school, part-time job etc.)

Question Title

* 13. There is potential for an overnight trip to the Experimental Lakes Area (just past Kenora, Ontario) as part of this course. Would you be allowed to take part in a supervised overnight trip?

Question Title

* 14. Please provide an example of physical activity that you participated in that would contribute to helping you succeed in the field components of this experience. (Ex. canoeing, hiking, etc.)

Question Title

* 15. We do our best to schedule MeDLEY on PD days; however, there is a possibility you will be absent from school once a month throughout the school year. You will be responsible for rescheduling tests and making up missed classwork. Do you think this will be manageable? How will you make up the missed class material?

Question Title

* 16. IISD-ELA encourages applicants to complete the brief questionnaire below. Applicants are permitted to self-identify as a member of one or more equity-deserving groups, including women, people beyond the gender binary, racialized people, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+. Responses are voluntary. Information collected will be used solely to carry out IISD-ELA's vision and mission under the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion framework, and for no other purpose. Information is protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act and will be held in the strictest confidence.

PLEASE ONLY CHECK OFF THE BOXES THAT APPLY

Question Title

* 17. If you have any questions about the course, please mention them here!

T