CIHR-Synapse Overview

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to over 10,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada.

After comprehensive consultations with stakeholders involved in promoting science and technology literacy, the health research community and other government agencies, CIHR has created a new youth outreach program that, over time, will have an impact on how young people in Canada think and learn about science and technology.

The program is known as Synapse - CIHR's Youth Connection. Synapse is designed to function as a meeting place, a junction that brings together high school students with health researchers, engineers and scientists.

The objective of Synapse is to get young people engaged and interested in science and technology which, ultimately, will help increase their literacy in these domains. Increased knowledge and enjoyment of science also helps stimulate awareness and interest among young people for a career in health research, another major objective behind Synapse. Research shows that by engaging young people early it increases their interest in science and the likelihood they will pursue a career in this field.