To help spark an interest and sense of inclusion in science, our lecturers and graduate students guided local Indigenous youth through an interactive introduction to microbiology.

By Sarah Anderson, PhD

What are microbes? What do they look like? What do they do? Where are they found? How many kinds of microbes are there?

At their core, these are the queries that scientists have been grappling with for centuries. But with strict limits on level of complexity and scope, these questions could actually be answered by a 10-year-old.

This was the goal last month, when the Department of Microbiology and Immunology hosted a microbiology learning and laboratory session for children participating in UBC’s CEDAR Camp. Through the CEDAR STEM Outreach and Mentorship Program, approximately 30 campers — local Indigenous youth ages 8 through 12 — visited UBC to participate in STEM education activities. 

“Many Indigenous youth face barriers to accessing post-secondary education, including the feeling that they do not belong in university spaces. By bringing them onto campus in a way that is positive, fun, and welcoming, we aim to shift that narrative,” said Aeron Salac, the CEDAR Program Coordinator. “When youth can picture themselves at UBC by seeing labs, classrooms, and mentors who care about them and, at times, reflect their own identities, it becomes less intimidating and more familiar. That comfort and sense of belonging are important first steps toward imagining and pursuing a future in higher education.”

Furthermore, “Hands-on STEM learning empowers Indigenous youth by allowing them to explore science in ways that are tangible, relevant, and engaging,” Salac said. “This kind of experiential learning allows them to imagine their future in STEM, whether as biologists, engineers, conservationists, or in entirely new roles."

To help spark an interest and sense of inclusion in science, a team of lecturers and graduate students from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology guided campers through an interactive introduction to microbiology. The campers learned that microbes are everywhere, that they are diverse, that they do important jobs, that some make us sick but others help protect us from harmful germs, and that there are thousands of different kinds and we are still discovering new ones. They then dreamed up and drew their own microbes. 

After they donned their lab coats and goggles (and gasped at the news that they could take the equipment home!), the campers made their way to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum to collect samples from the water feature outside. Back at the lab, they discovered that microbes are too small to be seen by eye and learned how to use a microscope to look at them. They also viewed a sample collected near Jericho Beach and compared the microbes living in the two water sources.

The campers then learned that growing microbes in the lab is like growing plants in a garden: The microbes need dirt (agar), food (media), and a pot (a Petri dish). The campers swabbed different surfaces and transferred the samples to Petri dishes, but because microbes need time to grow, they then analyzed plates that had been prepared the day before. While a swab of a belly button produced the most bacteria, a swab of the lab bench — undoubtedly cleaned more thoroughly — produced the least.  

“We planned activities that aren’t so daunting that the campers have trouble following, but also ones where they’re really doing the thinking,” said Dr. Andrew Santos, a lecturer at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. “Having the opportunity to learn from and ask questions of actual researchers in an informal setting really encourages their curiosity.”

Santos, who focuses on Indigenous student engagement and support, sees CEDAR Camp as an important effort in reaching a community that is underrepresented in STEM. He recalled that a camper approached him and asked how he could get involved in conducting research. “Part of my role is making connections and showing people that I'm available to talk to,” Santos said. “So even having a camper feel comfortable coming to me with that question is, I think, a success.”