1921 · Toronto
Banting and Best, a 22-year-old student, discover insulin at the University of Toronto.
Free · For students across Canada
Turn curiosityinto real research.
Free, mentor-led programs for students across Canada. Learn the craft this summer. Compete this winter.
Registration closes August 1
Mentors and partners from
The route from first question to real research
Every researcher started exactly where you are. Follow the firefly trail, one waypoint at a time.
Discover
Find the field that pulls you in.
Twelve research pathways across STEM and social science, from biology and computer science to psychology and public policy. Start where your questions already live.
Learn
Go from zero to research-ready.
Research 101 is a free four-week summer workshop led by university mentors. One session a week, and you leave ready to lead or join real projects.
See Research 101Free · Closes August 1Compete
Show your work on Canada's biggest stage.
The Symposium brings high school and university researchers to downtown Toronto for cash prizes, publication opportunities, and internships.
Explore the SymposiumWinter 2027Beyond
Keep the momentum.
A free interview series with working researchers and deeper paid resources are on the way. Be first to hear when they land.
This trail has a track record.
Every landmark below started with someone asking a question. Yours counts too.
1953 · Cambridge
Watson, Crick, and Franklin's data reveal the double helix of DNA.
1969 · The Moon
Apollo 11 lands. Behind the small step: years of research by thousands of people.
100+
Students reached through workshops, library events, and mentor sessions.
Sessions have been led by MIT mentors, a TMU professor, a biology PhD candidate, and a Western University medical student.
About Join ResearchQuestions students ask us
What free research programs does Join Research Canada run?
Research 101 is our flagship: a free four-week summer workshop for high school students, led by university mentors. We also run field workshops, community events, and The Symposium, Canada's biggest student research competition, in Winter 2027.
How can I get research experience in high school in Canada?
Start with a structured program. Research 101 takes you from zero experience to proficient enough to lead or join real research projects, in four weekly sessions. It is free and online.
Do I need experience to join?
No. Every program is built for students starting from zero, including students who have never set foot in a lab.
Can students outside Toronto take part?
Yes. Programs run online for students across Canada, including Toronto, the GTA, Ontario, and Vancouver. The Symposium is in person in downtown Toronto.
What research fields can I explore?
STEM pathways like biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, health sciences, and environmental science, plus social science pathways like psychology, economics, sociology, and public policy.
What comes after Research 101?
Compete at The Symposium in Winter 2027, take what you learned into real projects, or keep going with our upcoming researcher interview series and resources.
Be in the room this summer.
Research 101 is free, online, and led by university mentors. Registration closes August 1.
Register for Research 101
Registration closes August 1