Strong Bones, Strong Minds, Strong Muscles

MANDATE

Strong Bones, Strong Minds, Strong Muscles (SBSMSM) is a program organized by graduate students in the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. Our mandate is to deliver science and research awareness to the community, thereby “shortening the gap” between researchers and the public. This mandate is carried out through two sets of activities:

1. Community engagement activities, in which graduate students have the opportunity to volunteer their time in the London community. These activities promote a mutual interest in science and research between graduate students and community members of all ages.
2. Fund-raising activities, in which social events for Schulich graduate students are used to raise funds for health-related charities and create awareness within Schulich of SBSMSM community engagement activities.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

SBSMSM subcommittees carry out our community engagement activities. These activities connect Western graduate students with groups of all ages in London to provide avenues for learning.

• The Retiring with Strong Minds subcommittee organizes monthly graduate student research talks at retirement homes around London. These talks provide Western graduate students with practice educating the public about their research.
• The Be Al U Ca-N B subcommittee plans to introduce elementary school girls to a career in science and research by organizing lab tours and “shadowing” opportunities. These activities connect Western graduate students with tomorrow’s scientists and encourage the development of female scientists from a young age.
• The Children’s Hospital subcommittee plans to organize activities that promote an interest in science and research among children at the Children’s Hospital in London. These activities support sick kids and their families and connect Western graduate students with the Children’s Hospital.

FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES

We also organize social events for Schulich graduate students in order to raise awareness about our activities and to donate funds to health-related charities. Previous events include a Science Trivia Night, a Cinco de Mayo Mixer, and two beach volleyball tournaments. Last year, over $2,000 was raised for the Alzheimer Society. This year, donations will go to the Children’s Health Foundation.

BENEFITS TO SCHULICH

By raising funds for the Alzheimer Society and the Children’s Health Foundation and by volunteering our time in the community, we are able to support Schulich’s goal of “creating knowledge in the science of healthy and successful development and aging across the life span.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

Our Second Annual Science Trivia Night will take place on November 22, 2012 at 6pm.  You can email sbsmsm@gmail.com for more information.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

There are lots of ways you can get involved! To find out more about the following opportunities, please email sbsmsm@gmail.com.

• Volunteer for a subcommittee. We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help us with our community engagement activities. You can volunteer for a permanent role on a subcommittee or volunteer for a specific event. Email us for more information!
• Sign up to do a presentation at a retirement home. The Retiring with Strong Minds subcommittee is always looking for presenters. Presentations are approximately 20 minutes long. This is a great way chance to practice putting your research into ‘lay language’ for a captive audience!
• Come out to a social event. Come out and meet your fellow Schulich graduate students and support a good cause! (Be sure to email us if you have ideas for events!) Check back on this page for information about upcoming events and keep an eye open for our posters!

OUR NAME... The name “Strong Bones, Strong Minds, Strong Muscles” reflects our desire to empower the community to engage in healthy behaviours and to expand knowledge across the life span by raising awareness of and interest in science and research.

• Events
• Funding/Scholarships
• Graduate Student Profiles
• School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies