Trends in youth climate change research highlight strengths and areas of improvement in canadian STEM outreach programs

Abstract

Climate change research and environmental activism are critical to the long-term health and safety of all people. Canadian populations face considerable risk from events such as coastal erosion, forest fires, droughts, and more. Youth climate activism is experiencing a zeitgeist which may positively impact research in this area. This paper explores publication trends in the Canadian Science Fair Journal to explore the locations, age groups, research topics and other key factors of science fair reports published between 2018 and 2022. From this analysis, we conclude that Canadian youth are keenly aware of how their research can generate solutions to climate change, and that they approach the issue from many perspectives. However, efforts must be made to further mobilize specific provinces, provide avenues for entrepreneurship, and increase networking to foster the next generation of Canadian climate scientists.