SuperNOVA celebrates 30 years sparking STEM curiosity for Atlantic Canada’s youth

When Alexandra Fenton talks to young people about artificial intelligence, one thing stands out: they aren’t intimidated.“I feel like in every circumstance where we talk to youth about AI and about tech, they're so unafraid,” says the Executive Director of SuperNOVA in Episode 80 of All Hands On Tech. As SuperNOVA—a not-for-profit initiative through Dalhousie University providing opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to youth across Atlantic Canada—celebrates its 30th anniversary, that confidence reflects just how much both technology—and the way young people engage with it—has changed.What began in 1996 as a summer camp program has grown into a year-round initiative reaching youth across Atlantic Canada.“Now we have like, 12 full time staff running programs year round, and things are just a lot bigger,” says Fenton.That growth mirrors a broader shift. Today’s youth are growing up immersed in digital tools—comfortable navigating technologies that many adults are still learning to understand. According to a 2025 survey by KPMG, almost three-quarters of Canadian students said they use AI regularly. Statistics Canada also reports that 99.2% of youth aged 15 to 24 have higher-than-average internet use—the highest proportion of any age group.

“Almost every kid over the age of 12 has a phone, right? They are just used to using AI, calling up Siri and asking questions, or on ChatGPT,” says Fenton. “They're just very used to it and very calm about it, in a way that the older generations are not.”

She notes that today’s youth use technology and artificial intelligence with ease because of their increased exposure from a young age, prompting SuperNOVA to introduce curriculums focused on critical thinking, responsible and ethical use, and online safety.Fenton emphasizes finding a “balance where the students are not afraid of [AI], but also know how to use it responsibly.”That balance is especially important given how early young people begin to shape their interests.

“Kids typically decide whether they're like arts kids or like science kids by the time they're in grade four,” she says.

For all of their programming, cyber-safety or otherwise, SuperNOVA takes a direct approach. They frequently send staff or volunteers into classrooms, exposing youth to tech early on and supporting the educators leading them.

“A lot of times there are tech resources in schools that teachers have access to but don’t use, because they don’t know how to use it,” says Fenton. “We do a lot of teacher training.”

SuperNOVA also realizes that education is only effective if it is accessible. They have extended their programming beyond urban centers, with over half of their work now in rural regions. They rely on community partners–libraries, First Nations groups, Boys and Girls clubs, and other youth-serving organizations– to support this widespread access, says Fenton.

“We strive to make our programs equitable, geographically and otherwise, by going to the communities specifically and not having the barrier of having to travel to the city to try to get into the programs,” she says.

Ultimately, SuperNOVA’s goal is to improve early tech education and introduce students of all ages to the variety of career paths within the tech sector.

“The purpose is not to make all kids into ‘STEM kids,’” she says. “It's to make sure that they know the wealth of options that they have. That they could be a ‘STEM kid’ as well as being anything else.”

As Nova Scotia’s tech sector continues to grow, that early exposure—and the confidence that comes with it—may play a key role in shaping the province’s future workforce.To hear the full conversation, listen to All Hands On Tech Episode 80: 30 years of SuperNOVA: Powering the tech talent pipeline early, available wherever you get your podcasts.