Students welcome to join SLCS lab
High school students looking for volunteer opportunities can join York University’s Swan Lake Citizen Science (SLCS) Lab this summer.
The SLCS Lab is looking for anyone interested in exploring scientific technologies, communicating about environmental issues, and making an impact on their local community.
High school students can assist in collecting environmental samples, analyzing data using Excel, and explaining complex information in simpler terms for broader audiences.
SLCS Lab members will train students for lab activities. University students will also mentor high school students as they complete their tasks.
Professor Satinder Brar said that the SLCS Lab can help high school students learn more about scientific research, apply their learning towards community outreach, and start networking with various people, such as researchers and elders.
“Let’s say one or two of them would be interested in moving towards environmental sciences and engineering. Then, probably they would be interested in planning some ecological restoration for such an urban environment as Swan Lake,” she said.
Professor Ali Asgary said that the most important aspect for future members is commitment towards their activities.
“It [the lab] needs your support, it needs your attention, [and] it needs your time – but to the level that you can [provide],” he said. “Even if it is one hour, that one effective hour is going to help a lot.”
The SLCS Lab monitors and assesses Swan Lake Park’s water quality and biodiversity to protect it from further environmental harm. To do so, they engage in four key initiatives: scientific research, public engagement, environmental education, and actionable solutions.
The lab uses technologies, such as drones, AI, chemical testing kits, GIS and other mapping technologies, and film equipment, to fulfil these initiatives.
The City of Markham deemed Swan Lake as hypereutrophic in 2011 – the poorest water quality level – because of excessive amounts of Canada goose-induced nitrogen and phosphorus that favour rapid algae and cyanobacteria growth over other wildlife.
The city has taken several measures to protect Swan Lake Park’s ecosystems. It treated Swan Lake with Phoslock in 2013 and Poly Aluminum Chloride in 2021 and 2024 to improve water quality. It also introduced a goose management program in 2014, and a Park Refresh program in 2021 to decrease Canada goose and invasive plant populations.
The YRDSB lists environment, conservation, and sustainability projects and initiatives as eligible for volunteer hours.
To sign up for the SLCS Lab, head to this form: https://www.yorku.ca/cifal/slcs-lab-membership/.
*Story and photo submitted by David Yin.