EducationNews theExpress Update
Friday, Aug. 31, 2012
Page 3
New improvements and opportunities at Selkirk College Students at Selkirk College will benefit from improved and upgraded campus facilities, thanks to $556,000 in capital funding that is part of the government’s investment in B.C.’s post-secondary infrastructure this year. The upgrade work will ensure infrastructure and operational systems are functioning at optimal levels at three sites: the main campus in Castlegar and the Tenth Street and Silver King campuses in Nelson.
The college and government also announced today how $457,000 in onetime funding -http://ow.ly/dbutB - will be used to offer short-term training in the region. The college expects to create seats in a variety of fields over the coming year, including administrative skills, early childhood education, and introduction to practical nursing, along with trades foundation programs. B.C. taxpayers are providing close to $26 million for Selkirk’s operations
Should I wear a hat or sunglasses or both to be protected by the sun? dr. science Christine Humphries
What is the difference in protection to your eyes from UV radiation wearing good-quality sunglasses versus a wide-brimmed hat? Should I be wearing my sunglasses when I am wearing my hat?
The reason it is recommended we wear a hat, long sleeve t-shirts, long pants and sunscreen when we are out in the sun is to protect our skin from UV damage. Sunglasses, on the other hand, are recommended to protect our eyes from UV damage. In the same way that the sun damages skin, the sun can also damage the eyes. Sunburn of the eyes is a condition called photokeratitis and has symptoms similar to a skin sunburn (redness and sensitivity). Although the eyes can recover from a sunburn, long-term exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays can cause serious damage to the retina and an increased chance of cataracts. This is why eye experts recommend that sunglasses, at a minimum, protect from
90% of both long and short wave UV rays (UV-A and UV-B). Good sunglasses also offer two other types of protection to our eyes: they protect from glare, and they protect from intense light. These additional types of protection are important because our eyes can only handle a certain intensity of light. The brightness of light is measured in lumens and our eyes function well up to a level of about 3500 lumens. On a bright sunny day, the light can reach in excess of 6000 lumens. The sunlight is even brighter when it reflects off highly reflective surfaces, such as water, and at these levels of brightness our eyes no longer see properly and detect only a white glare. Worse, when sunlight reflects off snow, the intensity of the light can be so high that it can cause blindness. It is therefore recommended to wear both a hat to protect the skin on the head, face and neck, and a good pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from both UV rays and the brightness of the sunlight.
Dr. Science is in real life, Dr. Christine Humphries, a molecular biologist
this year - including an allowance for general infrastructure maintenance up from $20.3 million in 2001-02. The number of funded student spaces at the college has increased over six per cent over that time. Over $10 million in capital investments have been made at the college since 2001, including renewal of the Tenth Street campus’ residence and music hall, and expansion of the Castlegar Aviation Centre. -Submitted by Selkirk College
260 free backpacks for West Kootenay families in need This year, the TELUS Community Ambassadors of the West Kootenays are easing some of that back-to-school financial strain for families throughout Nelson and area. Two hundred and sixty students will receive a free backpack filled with school supplies in time to start the new school year. This initiative is part of TELUS’ Kits for Kids program, an annual tradition through which thousands of backpacks are distributed to young students in need across Canada. Since 2006, nearly 60,000 Kits for Kids backpacks have been given to kids in need. The kits are prepared by ����������������������������� Community Ambassadors each May during the annual TELUS Day of Giving – a special day in which TELUS team members and retirees across Canada volunteer in support of local activities to make positive, heartfelt and lasting connections within their communities. The backpacks are filled with the essential school supplies needed for each grade: pencils, loose-leaf sheets, pencil cases, rulers and much more. The kits then are delivered to school districts in June to allow the schools to determine need and to be able to notify recipient children and parents before they break for the summer. -Submitted by Telus
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NEW SCHOOL AGE CARE PROGRAM Cornerstone Children’s Centre Before and after school care and full days on Pro-D days. Includes pickup and drop off at Hume school September to June • Monday to Friday Start Date: September 4, 2012 Cost: Before school : $8 • After School : $15 250-352-9910 Kristin Konzelman kristin@fbcnelson.ca www.fbcnelson.ca 611 Fifth Street, Nelson, BC V1L 2X1
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