Student Volunteering
There are many ways for students of all levels to get involved both on and off-campus. Giving back to the community by investing time and energy into Physics & Astronomy and/or Western Science outreach endeavours is a rewarding and enriching experience.
We have listed some opportunities for you to engage at both the undergraduate and graduate levels below. For more information on other opportunities, we suggest reaching out to our office , PASA , or the Graduate Council for more information on getting involved within our department.
Undergraduate Student Volunteer Opportunities
Fall Preview Day is a day when high school students have the chance to meet with faculty, staff, and students and learn why Western offers the best student experience among Canadian Universities. Volunteers at Fall Preview Day meet potential students and parents, share their enthusiasm for Physics & Astronomy and show some of our Demonstrations. Fall Preview Day takes place in early November.
March Break Open House is a day when high school students have the chance to meet with faculty, staff, and students and learn why Western offers the best student experience among Canadian Universities. Volunteers at the Open House meet potential students and parents, share their enthusiasm for Physics & Astronomy and show some of our Demonstrations. March Break Open House takes place in mid-March.
Graduate Student Volunteer Opportunities
The Let's Talk Science is a national outreach program with 26 sites across Canada! Graduate students in all areas of science volunteer in their communities to ignite science excitement! At Western, there are two ways you can volunteer with us: you can be in a teacher partnership or volunteer at community events. We are always looking for new volunteers, so please visit our website for more information!
Exploring the Stars (EtS) is the main educational public outreach program at Cronyn Observatory that runs on week nights. Our goal is to offer educational astronomy activities for elementary and secondary school students, university students, and the general public.
EtS offers private educational programs for groups on weekday evenings October through April, with events consisting of specialized topic presentations, hands-on activities and demonstrations, and guided observing at the Cronyn Observatory (weather permitting). EtS is free, and requires a minimum group size of 15 people.
EtS is organized by Western’s Department of Physics and Astronomy in conjunction with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, London Centre. For more information, please visit our website.
The All Science Challenge is a trivia and hands-on competition meant to inspire teams of students in grades 6 through 8 to acquire science knowledge in a fun way. This event takes place every year in May. Please contact Alysha Croker at acroker@uwo.ca if you would like to volunteer.
London District Science and Technology Fair
The London District Science and Technology Fair supports, encourages & operates activities that promote the advancement of science and technology among students of all ages and abilities. To become a judge for this event, that takes place in April every year, please visit our website.
London Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC)
The London Chapter of the RASC aims to help locally in fulfilling the RASC mission to enhance understanding of and inspire curiosity about the Universe, through public outreach, education, and support for astronomical research.
Science Olympics
The Science Olympics provides the opportunity for secondary school student teams to experience the challenge and excitement of competing against the clock in a number of science-related events. The event is held every year on the Thursday following Victoria Day in May.
