For most high school students, a research laboratory is a place they only read about in textbooks. But thanks to ENRICH (Empowering the Next Generation through Research Internships in Child Health) – a growing group of local students are spending their summers doing real science alongside the researchers working to improve children’s health.
Founded by Children’s Health Foundation and delivered through Children’s Health Research Institute (CHRI), ENRICH places high school students directly into research teams across seven labs, located at Western University, working alongside undergraduate research assistants, graduate students, research associates, lab technicians, and professors. It’s a full introduction to what a career in science can actually look like, not just what it looks like on paper.
A head start on the future
Ibrahim, a 17-year-old student from Montcalm Secondary School heading into Grade 12, is in his first year with the program. For him, the benefits go well beyond the lab bench.
"It gives me the co-op credits I need for high school, time management skills, and an opportunity to connect with my peers."
That combination – practical skills, real relationships, and a taste of university life – is exactly what the program’s founders had in mind.
Watching curiosity turn into confidence
Dr. Bryan Allman, a CHRI scientist, has seen firsthand how quickly students grow once they’re given the chance.
“It’s great to see how the students arrive curious and detail-oriented, but they haven’t really had the exposure to have that manifest,” Allman said.
He points to the problem-solving skills students build almost immediately.
"There's a tremendous amount of problem solving that they need to do and collaborate – it's really exciting to see. The ability to communicate when they encounter a problem is huge."
For Allman, the program is about more than lab techniques. “I realized early on there are many high school students who are curious about science, but do not have the exposure. Giving them that choice is truly empowering. They gain professional abilities they wouldn’t get otherwise. We try to provide that mentorship so it’s less scary when they go to tackle a choice.”
Allman emphasizes that the program depends on many people working together behind the scenes. “None of this happens without thoughtful people extending themselves – the donors, the interns, the undergraduate research assistants, graduate students, research associates, and in some labs, the laboratory staff, technicians and professors.” Allman also credits the science department heads across TVDSB schools, who help identify students for the program in the first place.
Building long-term mentorship
Fellow CHRI scientist Katherine Willmore has watched the program shape not just skills, but self-belief.
“We’re hoping the program instills confidence in the students…that they belong, that they can tackle any challenge that’s ahead of them, and that they have people who have their back,” she says. “It’s long-term mentorship.”
Where it can lead
That mentorship has already changed the course of at least one career. Natalie, a 2024 ENRICH graduate, is heading into a biotechnology program at Fanshawe College this fall, with her sights set even further ahead.
"The program gave me a sense of direction on where I wanted to go."
Natalie hopes to pursue biomedical engineering after college, “to hopefully design and develop new-generation research tools and technologies” – a goal that traces directly back to her summer in an ENRICH lab.
Growing the next generation of researchers
From co-op credits to career direction, ENRICH is proving that access and mentorship can be just as important as talent. By opening lab doors to curious, capable students who might not otherwise get the chance, the program is helping build a future generation of researchers ready to improve the lives of children and families for years to come.
Shannon Wise
swise@childhealth.ca
