Let’s Talk Science STEM Storytime – When Brains don’t Work
CCNA Knowledge Mobilization Product (2024)

Storytime webinars to raise awareness and understanding of dementia among children

With the expert help of Let’s Talk Science, a Canadian charity that promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning and engagement, Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) trainees’ Laura Fitzgibbon-Colins and Flavie Detcheverry, designed an engaging webinar for children.
This was the first time that CCNA created a knowledge mobilization product for children. This idea was the vision of Linda Sky Grossman, a member of EPLED, CCNA’s Engagement of People with Lived Experience of Dementia advisory group. The goal was to raise awareness and understanding of dementia among Canadian families and encourage discussion of dementia at school and at home.
The webinar itself included a story about an older person living with dementia, an activity about connections in the brain, and some discussion questions on how brains work and what happens when they do not work well.
The two storytime webinars were free and offered through schools and homeschooling across Canada. The live events reached over 300 students and the recording were viewed by over 325 students.
The webinars were part of an ongoing and successful STEM story time run by Let’s Talk Science – a national charitable organization dedicated to preparing youth for evolving career and citizenship demands by providing programs and resources that help improve youth education and engagement in STEM.

About the Team

Dr. Carrie McAiney, Schlegel Research Institute for Aging, University of Waterloo, co-lead of CCNA’s Knowledge Translation and Exchange Program.
Dr. Howard Chertkow, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, University of Toronto, CCNA Scientific Director and co-lead of CCNA’s Knowledge Translation and Exchange Program.
Laura Fitzgibbon-Collins, CCNA trainee.
Flavie Detcheverry, CCNA trainee.
Dr. Inbal Itzhak, CCNA Senior Knowledge Mobilization Officer.
Linda Sky Grossman, CCNA EPLED member.
Emmanuelle Carty, Senior Outreach Coordinator, Youth and Volunteer Experience, Let’s Talk Science.