Check out below all of our offered workshops! Workshops will be led by two Geering Up instructors and consist of exciting, hands-on activities that promote problem-solving and curiosity in STEAM fields. In our high school workshops, students will have a chance to practice critical thinking and teamwork to apply the knowledge that they learn to their own mini-projects. Additionally, as a part of UBC, instructors can give advice and answer questions about post-secondary education. Students of all levels can participate and be equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to further explore programming, science, and engineering after the workshop.
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Workshop Dates:
January to June 2026
Available Times:
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
We are happy to accommodate your school’s bell schedule.
Cost:
1 Workshop – $195/Workshop
3 Workshops (in the same day) – $175/Workshop
6+ Workshops – $155/Workshop- Lower Mainland*
*If your location is further away from Vancouver, workshop delivery may not be possible. Please email workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca to check eligibility.
HIGH SCHOOL WORKSHOPS
Check out our 2026 workshop themes!
The Physics of Light
In this workshop, students can explore the fascinating effects of light interacting with lenses, mirrors, polarizers, and more. Students will gain hands-on experience with different optical systems and observe wave-particle duality in lasers.
Suggested grade: 8 – 9
Considerations: This workshop uses laser pointers and delicate materials, please advise students to be extra safe and careful during this workshop. Due to sensitive materials, we will take extra precautions to ensure everyone is safe and able to have fun!
Engineering Green Cities
In this workshop students will explore the effects of a changing climate in urban cities. We will investigate how the heat island effect happens and how engineers can implement solutions to this problem caused by human actions like urbanization and deforestation. Finally, students will be challenged to design, create and test their own green roofs!
Suggested grade: 8 – 9
Considerations: N/A
Sustainable Chemistry
In this workshop, students will be equipped with an understanding of green chemistry principles. Students will be challenged to think about sustainable alternatives to plastic usage through the lens of chemical engineering and be encouraged to discover creative solutions to our current climate crisis.
Suggested grade: 8 – 9
Considerations: This workshop will include a chemical experiment that can be edible. We will be using sodium alginate, fruit juice, and calcium chloride. We will bring multiple flavors to mitigate issues with allergies, however, please keep this in mind.
Intro to Robotics
In this workshop, students will learn about the basics of circuitry and how it’s used in robotics. We will explore how electric energy is transferred into mechanical energy and students will then build their own basic electric robots!
Suggested grade: 8 – 12
Considerations: N/A
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In-person workshop fees vary depending on how many workshops you choose to sign up for. Please see above for details. To help offset the cost of vehicle rentals and travel time, travel fees apply to all schools outside of Vancouver and range from $20 - $40. We recognize that some schools may be experiencing additional financial difficulties during this time. Should you want to participate but find that cost is a barrier, please don’t hesitate to contact us at workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca.
Our workshops are designed for single classes of up to 30 students. Each of our teams can teach up to three workshops per day, according to the following schedule. We are happy to accommodate the nuances of your school's bell schedule.
Workshop 1: 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Workshop 2: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Workshop 3: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
70% of tomorrow's jobs will require STEAM skills, but less than half of high school students graduate with the prerequisite STEAM courses (Skills Competencies Canada). BC's new ADST curriculum heavily integrates computer science and applied science skills to help address that gap. Geering Up workshops aim to help educators satisfy BC's new ADST curriculum by providing their students the opportunity to investigate STEAM in fun, innovative, and hands-on experiments and projects. Our workshops allow students to build future skills, connect with current university undergraduate students, and gain tools, knowledge, and inspiration to explore a future in STEAM!
No! Workshops will not require the downloading of any apps or software. All of the software we use in our workshops are web-based applications that you and your students can access through the internet!
For our in-person workshops materials may include computer or tablet with an internet connection. All other materials will be provided by the Geering Up team. A teacher letter with information about the workshop content and a list of any additional materials needed will be provided in advance of your scheduled workshop.
Please keep an eye out for a teacher letter with information about the workshop content and a list of any additional materials needed. This will be provided after registration, and in advance of your scheduled workshop.
There are two payment options, either via cheque or credit card. Once you've confirmed your workshop, our team will send you an invoice with a link to pay by credit card if you choose to do so, or a mailing address to pay via cheque.
Full payment is due two weeks after your last workshop date. If you have any issues, please reach out to: workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca
Have more questions?
You can reach us at workshops.geeringup@ubc.ca.
