The iREx offers many opportunities for internships, career days and training for Quebec high school and CEGEP students. These activities allow students to learn more about astronomy, exoplanets, telescopes and a career in astronomy, and to meet professional astronomers in their research environments.
The iREx typically organises one or two Career Days for high school and CEGEP students who want to learn more about what astronomers do. In small groups (between 5 and 15 participants), students spend a day at the MIL campus of the Université de Montréal with iREx astronomers, including presentations, question and answer periods, a tour of our laboratories, informal discussions and more. These Career Days are often held in the Spring, sometimes in collaboration with the Jeunes Explorateurs program. Check this webpage and our social media to be informed of our next Career Days.
The next Career Days will be in the week of January 9th (day TBD), on February 15th and April 20th. Contact Marie-Eve Naud if you are interested to join us on one of these dates.
UdeM astronomers (from left to right) Nicole St-Louis, Julie Hlavacek-Larrondo and Patrick Dufour talk about the work of an astrophysicist to young students. (Credit: M.-E. Naud)
The iREx, in collaboration with the UdeM physics department, organises an event for CEGEP students considering undergraduate studies in physics every year in January or February. During the activity, students have the opportunity to meet several graduate students and researchers in astrophysics from the Department, and to learn more about their research. A Q&A period will also allow them to have all their questions related to the UdeM physics program, the job of an astrophysicist and scientific research answered. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, the event was in person at UdeM for a full day. We moved to a virtual format in 2021 and 2022. Check this website and on our social networks to hear first when will be the next event.
The next Soirée d’initiation à la recherche en astrophysique will be February 8th.
The Marie Curie Scholarship is awarded each year to a student graduating from CEGEP admitted to the physics program at the Université de Montréal. It allows them to participate in a paid internship of 3 or 4 months in one of the department’s research groups, including with iREx professors, during the summer preceding the beginning of their physics program. This scholarship is sponsored by renowned astrophysicist, Hubert Reeves. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2023.
InitiaSciences is a unique program in Quebec that offers secondary school and CEGEP students the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge scientific research projects with the personalised support of university students and young researchers. This initiative was founded in 2021 by several Ph.D. students from Quebec institutions including iREx. The 2022-2023 cohort has already been selected. Two of this year’s mentors are iREx student researchers: André Beaudoin and Caroline Piaulet. Details to apply for the 2023-2024 cohort are available on InitiaSciences website and on our social networks.
Given the large number of requests we receive for training and mentoring of youth at the primary, secondary and CEGEP levels, we strongly encourage youth to get involved in our existing initiatives. That said, you can contact Marie-Eve Naud, our Education and Public Outreach Coordinator, if you have a special request. Some of our researchers and student researchers are sometimes available for mentoring projects, science fairs or occasional discussions or meetings with students.