Science Rendezvous / en U of T transformed into giant, open-air lab for Science Rendezvous /news/u-t-transformed-giant-open-air-lab-science-rendezvous <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T transformed into giant, open-air lab for Science Rendezvous</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/mirror-task.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=r9a1b5Mv 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/mirror-task.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=7YuhEZz0 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/mirror-task.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Xr0uBqK0 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/mirror-task.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=r9a1b5Mv" alt="Children participate in a psychology experiment at Science Rendezvous"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-05-13T09:42:42-04:00" title="Monday, May 13, 2019 - 09:42" class="datetime">Mon, 05/13/2019 - 09:42</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Melissa Finlay, a first-year student in the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, leads boys through a mirror tracing task, which demonstrates how procedural memory allows us to compare different tasks and procedures (all photos by Geoffrey Vendeville)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cell-and-systems-biology" hreflang="en">Cell and Systems Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/chemistry" hreflang="en">Chemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/laboratory-medicine-and-pathobiology" hreflang="en">Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-rendezvous" hreflang="en">Science Rendezvous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/stem" hreflang="en">STEM</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/trinity-college" hreflang="en">Trinity College</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>There is ground-breaking reseach being done every day at the Ƶ, but it's not always on display like it was last weekend.&nbsp;</p> <p>U of T became a giant open-access laboratory on Saturday during Science Rendezvous, an annual and free all-day festival meant to encourage interest in S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). Researchers at 40 sites and across 30 Canadian cities participated in this year’s event.</p> <p><em>U of T News</em> visited the fair to document the festivities and young scientists in the making.&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10901 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/platelet.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"></p> <p><strong>Neha Chauhan</strong>, a graduate student in laboratory medicine and pathobiology, puts a magnifying glass over a platelet made of pipe-cleaner.&nbsp;“It’s really fun bringing science to the streets like this,” she said.&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10922 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/bubble_2.jpg" style="height: 500px; width: 333px;" typeof="foaf:Image">&nbsp;</p> <p>A boy is submerged in a bubble fortified with glycerine. <strong>Bijan Mirabi</strong>, a PhD student in organic chemistry, said he loves doing science outreach. “I like introducing science to people who might not know that they love it,” he said.&nbsp;“I want to show them that there’s more to it than just sitting in a lab all day.”</p> <p><br> <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10902 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/polaris.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"></p> <p>A boy flashes a smile as he gets into the driver’s seat of Polaris, <a href="https://www.ece.utoronto.ca/news/polaris-blue-sky-solar-racing-team-unveils-newest-vehicle/">the Blue Sky Solar Racing team’s solar-powered vehicle</a>. It was built for a 3,000-kilometre race in the Australian outback.</p> <p><br> <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10917 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/small-pox_1.jpg" style="width: 333px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p><strong>Danielle MacPherson</strong>, who works in donor relations at U of T, volunteered to dress up for the Dalla Lana School of Public Health’s quarantine tent. She was assigned small pox. Educating the public about vaccines is particularly important now, she said, since the World Health Organization has listed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019">“vaccine hesitancy”&nbsp;as one of the top-10 threats to global health.</a></p> <p><br> <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10904 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/spectrograph.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"></p> <p>A look inside <a href="https://utsic.utoronto.ca/wpm_instrument/spectrograph/">a spectrograph –&nbsp;also called a spectroscope</a>&nbsp;– made in the early 20th century, in U of T’s scientific instrument collection. The spectrograph was likely used with a small telescope&nbsp;focused on a celestial object such as the sun, or to demonstrate spectroscopy by being focused on some other light source.&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10919 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/microscope_2.jpg" style="width: 333px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>A girl learns how plants resist infection in an activity hosted by the department of cell and&nbsp;systems biology. PhD candidate <strong>Francis Lee</strong>&nbsp;led people through an interactive game to learn how researchers like Professor<strong> Keiko Yoshioka</strong>&nbsp;help crops defend themselves against infection.<br> <br> <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10906 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/twins.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Twins Lucas (left) and Jayden Poon take turns looking up at the sky through a telescope at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s tent.&nbsp;<br> <br> <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10907 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/dragon-glass.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"></p> <p><em>Game of Thrones </em>fans may recognize the shiny black rock in the middle as Dragonglass, but geologists typically refer to it as obsidian.<br> <br> <img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__10911 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/dominos.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Hugh Considine uses tweezers to&nbsp;place the first piece in a line of dominos, part of a physics experiment. The smallest piece weighs a fraction of a gram while the largest weighs over 45 kilograms.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 13 May 2019 13:42:42 +0000 geoff.vendeville 156666 at Cherry blossoms and black holes: Check out these May events /news/cherry-blossoms-and-black-holes-check-out-these-may-events <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Cherry blossoms and black holes: Check out these May events</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-05-04-cherry-blossoms_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=eUpr8whm 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2018-05-04-cherry-blossoms_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=bJc64hTN 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2018-05-04-cherry-blossoms_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Z12vt37M 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-05-04-cherry-blossoms_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=eUpr8whm" alt="Photo of cherry blossoms"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Romi Levine</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-05-01T12:14:22-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - 12:14" class="datetime">Wed, 05/01/2019 - 12:14</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom outside of Robarts Library (photo by Noreen Ahmed-Ullah)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/romi-levine" hreflang="en">Romi Levine</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/myhal-centre-engineering-innovation-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/munk-school-global-affairs-public-policy-0" hreflang="en">Munk School of Global Affairs &amp; Public Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/school-cities" hreflang="en">School of Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/art-museum" hreflang="en">Art Museum</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cherry-blossoms" hreflang="en">Cherry Blossoms</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/daniels-faculty-architecture" hreflang="en">Daniels Faculty of Architecture</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-law" hreflang="en">Faculty of Law</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hart-house" hreflang="en">Hart House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/housing" hreflang="en">Housing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/photography" hreflang="en">Photography</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/physics" hreflang="en">Physics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/robarts" hreflang="en">Robarts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/rotman-school-management" hreflang="en">Rotman School of Management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-rendezvous" hreflang="en">Science Rendezvous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/thomas-fisher-rare-book-library" hreflang="en">Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">U of T Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>April showers have brought May flowers as the cherry blossoms outside Robarts Library begin to bloom. But the Instagram-worthy foliage isn’t the only event getting people excited at the Ƶ this month.</p> <p>May is full of fascinating events – from city-wide science, architecture and photography festivals to talks by a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and a researcher on the team who captured the first-ever image of a black hole.</p> <p>Here is a selection of events taking place on all three campuses this month:</p> <h3>May 2</h3> <p>Kids can learn about what it’s like to work and study at U of T at Bring Our Children to Work Day. The annual event invites appointed faculty, librarians and staff to bring children in Grades 4 to 7 for an exciting day of activities. Registration is now closed but you can find out more about the events on the <a href="http://www.odlc.utoronto.ca/hr/bocwdstg">downtown Toronto</a>, <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hr/bring-our-children-work-day">Scarborough</a> and <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/bring-our-children-work-day-utm">Mississauga</a> campuses.</p> <p>Faculty and students from U of T, York, Ryerson and OCAD have been working together on a research project exploring affordable student housing in Toronto. The group will be presenting some of their findings <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/studentdwell-reimagining-student-housing-tickets-59075865504">at StudentDwell+: Reimagining Student Housing, a two-day symposium</a> held at York University.</p> <p>Donna Strickland, Nobel Prize in Physics recipient for 2018, <a href="https://welsh.physics.utoronto.ca/history/2019/public-talks/generating-high-intensity-ultrashort-optical-pulses/">will be delivering the Welsh Lecture in Physics at U of T</a>. She’ll be talking about her award-winning work on ultrashort optical pulses. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Hear from Harvard University’s Peter Galison, a member of the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, about what went into capturing the historic image of a black hole, at <a href="https://hps.utoronto.ca/peter-galison-philosophy-of-the-shadow/?utm_source=Bulletin+Brief&amp;utm_campaign=425e41805c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_06_13_COPY_01&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_66bc4ba557-425e41805c-109987547">an event presented by U of T’s Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology</a>.&nbsp;</p> <h3>May 3</h3> <p>Exciting news for the Robarts Library expansion – <a href="https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/news/notice-concrete-drilling-robarts-library-may-2-7-7-am-12-pm">crews have begun to drill the concrete to connect the library with the new Robarts Common structure</a>. Studying at Robarts may be a little loud, but you can ask staff at the ground floor information desk and second-floor Ask Us desk for earplugs.</p> <p>Shutterbugs rejoice – Toronto’s Contact photography festival is back, with captivating exhibitions taking place on U of T campuses:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>See the world through the eyes of an engineer at <a href="https://scotiabankcontactphoto.com/exhibition/ambition-innovation-and-excellence-a-decade-at-skule/">Ambition, Innovation, and Excellence: A Decade at Skule</a>, which will feature photographs from current students and alumni, providing an intimate look at the faculty.</li> <li>Director of the International Human Rights Program in the Faculty of Law, <strong>Samer Muscati</strong>, will be showcasing photographs from his visits to Rwanda 15 and 25 years after the genocide at <a href="http://harthouse.ca/about-i-live-on/">Hart House</a> and at U of T Scarborough. An event to commemorate the 25<sup>th </sup>anniversary of the genocide <a href="https://utsc.utoronto.ca/news-events/events/commemorating-25-years-rwandas-genocide">will be taking place at U of T Scarborough this afternoon</a>.</li> </ul> <h3>May 4</h3> <p>American artist <a href="https://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/events/2019/05/04/spotlight-lecture-carrie-mae-weems">Carrie Mae Weems will be speaking at U of T</a> as part of the Contact festival. The MacArthur grant recipient, whose work has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, will also be presenting her work at U of T’s Art Museum and at locations across the city. Her lecture is sold out but you can join the waitlist.</p> <h3>May 5</h3> <p>Roll up your sleeves and join the U of T Trash Team for <a href="https://twitter.com/UofT/status/1121428917536083968">the annual Clean up the Don event</a>, where you can do your part for the environment by picking up litter along the Don River watershed.</p> <h3>May 8</h3> <p>What makes a successful city? <a href="https://www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/events/perfect-city">U of T’s School of Cities is hosting an event</a> that will explore the challenges and opportunities faced by big cities around the world&nbsp;for the book launch of <em>Perfect City: An Urban Fixer’s Global Search for Magic in the Modern Metropolis</em>, by <strong>Joe Berridge</strong>, one of the world’s leading urban planners.</p> <p>Ahead of the G20 summit in Japan, the Centre for the Study of Global Japan and the G20 Research Group of U of T are <a href="https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/event/27719/">hosting a one-day symposium to discuss the evolving agenda of the annual meeting of global leaders</a>. Officials and scholars from around the world will be attending the event held at the Munk School of Global Affairs &amp; Public Policy, including Takako Ito, consulate-general of Japan in Toronto.</p> <h3>May 11</h3> <p>Glowing bacteria, mutant flies, scavenger hunts and virtual reality tours are just a few of the displays and activities at this year’s Science Rendezvous, the annual family-friendly festival. Here’s what’s happening on the <a href="https://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/event_sites/university-of-toronto-st-george-campus/">downtown Toronto</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/event_sites/university-of-toronto-scarborough/">Scarborough</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/event_sites/lets-talk-science-central-library/">Mississauga</a> campuses.</p> <h3>May 13</h3> <p>This is the last week to <a href="https://artmuseum.utoronto.ca/exhibition/2019-university-of-toronto-mvs-studio-program-graduating-exhibition/">see the work of some of U of T’s talented artists</a> at the Master&nbsp;of Visual Studies graduate exhibition and the Shelley Peterson art exhibition at U of T’s Art Museum.</p> <h3>May 14</h3> <p>Listen to captivating stories told by members of Toronto’s medical community at <a href="https://medicine.utoronto.ca/event/story-slam">the department of medicine’s annual Story Slam</a>, in partnership with the Annals of Internal Medicine.</p> <h3>May 25</h3> <p>Explore some of U of T’s most fascinating spaces at this year’s Doors Open Toronto. It’s your chance to admire the architecture in the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, explore One Spadina, and check out the new <a href="http://uoft.me/doorsopenmyhal">Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation &amp; Entrepreneurship</a>, which will be hosting lightning lectures and interactive activities for kids.</p> <h3>May 28</h3> <p>Join urban thought leaders, policy-makers, planners, community advocates and business leaders to exchange ideas on ways to meet the challenges of governing cities in the midst of change at the Governing Cities in the 21st Century symposium. The event will feature experts including Michelynn Laflèche, vice-president of United Way Greater Toronto, Bill Peduto, mayor of Pittsburgh, and <strong>Richard Florida</strong>, <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards-funding/university-professors/#section_2">University Professor </a>at the Rotman School of Management.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/events/governing-cities-21st-century">You can learn more and register here</a> or <a href="https://livemedia.biz/UofT.html">watch the livestream</a>.</p> <h3>May 30</h3> <p>Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic will be at the Rotman School of Management <a href="http://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/ProfessionalDevelopment/Events/UpcomingEvents/20190530TomasChamorro-Premuzic">to discuss his new book, <em>Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? (And How To&nbsp;Fix It)</em></a><em>, </em>which explores the flaws in a system that rewards arrogance and loudness over humility and wisdom. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 01 May 2019 16:14:22 +0000 Romi Levine 156489 at Science Rendezvous brings U of T research from the lab to the streets /news/science-rendezvous-brings-u-t-research-lab-streets <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Science Rendezvous brings U of T research from the lab to the streets</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/cell-cave-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Ml1bvtuK 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/cell-cave-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=qV-2J9C- 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/cell-cave-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=AyXueGE6 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/cell-cave-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Ml1bvtuK" alt="Mason Godkewitsch in cell cave"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-05-14T09:27:47-04:00" title="Monday, May 14, 2018 - 09:27" class="datetime">Mon, 05/14/2018 - 09:27</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Mason Godkewitsch, 8, makes shadow puppets on the walls of the “cell cave” in the student lounge in the McLennan building on the downtown Toronto campus (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville) </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-lana-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla Lana School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dalla-school-public-health" hreflang="en">Dalla School of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/ontario-institute-studies-education" hreflang="en">Ontario Institute for Studies in Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-rendezvous" hreflang="en">Science Rendezvous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/stem" hreflang="en">STEM</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">U of T Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Through fluorescent cells projected onto walls to solar-powered vehicles, the Ƶ community showed thousands of people the wonders of science on Saturday.</p> <p>Science Rendezvous brought U of T research from the lab to the streets to inspire the next generation&nbsp;of scientists. The science festival began in 2008 as an initiative of the Ƶ, Ryerson University, York University and the University of&nbsp;Ontario Institute of Technology. It has since become the largest science festival in the country, organizers say.</p> <p><em>U of T News</em> captured some of the action over the weekend.&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8336 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/woman-in-stem-embed.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"></p> <p>A girl adds to a poster about what it means to be a woman in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville).&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8338 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/blue-sky-solar-embed.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> Bulent, 3, looks up at his dad and MBA student <strong>Levent Timur</strong> from the wheel of <a href="http://news.engineering.utoronto.ca/polaris-blue-sky-solar-racing-team-unveils-newest-vehicle/">Polaris, a solar-powered vehicle</a> made by U of T's Blue Sky Solar Racing Team (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville).&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8346 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/reproductive-system-embed.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> <strong>​Bona Kim</strong> (left), a physiology PhD student, teaches Emma Asgeirsson, 8, about the female reproductive system. Asgeirsson listened to a recorded fetal heartbeat through a stethoscope. "It sounds like someone eating," she says (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8348 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/mason-cell-cave.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> Mason Godkewitsch, 8, poses for a photo inside the cell cave in the McLennan building at the downtown campus.&nbsp;The images on the walls are neural cells that started as pluripotent cells in the lab of&nbsp;<strong>Radha Chaddah</strong>, a visual artist who obtained a master of science in cell and molecular neurobiology (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville).&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8342 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/microbes-embed_0.jpg" style="width: 333px; height: 500px; margin: 10px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>A boy looks inside a box containing glowing microbes. Scientists from the Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution &amp; Function (CAGEF) displayed naturally fluorescent bacteria and bacteria that were made to glow with a gene from jellyfish.</p> <p><strong>Sylva Donaldson</strong>, project manager of CAGEF, says she hoped visitors learned that not all bacteria are bad.&nbsp;“There are a lot of good bacteria in us, on us and in the environment that actually fight off the bad ones.” (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8340 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/r2d2-embed.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> Kids inspect an R2-D2 replica made by the R2-D2 Builders Club at the Bahen Centre (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville).&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8344 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/maydianne.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> At the Ƶ Scarborough, young visitors learned about spiders from&nbsp;<strong>Maydianne Andrade&nbsp;</strong>(left), a professor of biological sciences and Canada Research Chair in&nbsp;Integrative Behavioural Ecology (photo by Sara Weales).&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8341 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/small-pox-embed.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> Mo Waja is the happiest man with smallpox. He dressed up in period garb for the Dalla Lana School of Public Health’s exhibit of contagious diseases, including whooping cough and measles. (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8343 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/oise-booth-embed.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> Master of teaching students Robin Connolly (right) and Isabella Vitale entertain&nbsp;a young visitor to the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education booth&nbsp;(photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 14 May 2018 13:27:47 +0000 geoff.vendeville 135318 at U of T takes science to the street with creepy crawlies and candy rockets at Science Rendezvous /news/u-t-takes-science-street-creepy-crawlies-and-candy-rockets-science-rendezvous <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T takes science to the street with creepy crawlies and candy rockets at Science Rendezvous</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/17-05-15%20SR%209%20rocket%20114%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=FzqY633M 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/17-05-15%20SR%209%20rocket%20114%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=CyXih9Yv 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/17-05-15%20SR%209%20rocket%20114%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=bKFcpqlH 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/17-05-15%20SR%209%20rocket%20114%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=FzqY633M" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Romi Levine</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-05-15T13:58:02-04:00" title="Monday, May 15, 2017 - 13:58" class="datetime">Mon, 05/15/2017 - 13:58</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Chemistry students perform a jaw-dropping candy rocket experiment (all photos by Romi Levine)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/romi-levine" hreflang="en">Romi Levine</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Romi Levine</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-rendezvous" hreflang="en">Science Rendezvous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/education" hreflang="en">Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Within the first half-hour of arriving at this year’s Science Rendezvous at U&nbsp;of T's downtown Toronto campus, I got my&nbsp;DNA extracted,&nbsp;ate worms and held a giant-sized cockroach.</p> <p>While certain activities at the annual family-oriented science and engineering festival are not for the faint of heart, there is truly something for everyone.</p> <h3><a href="/news/toronto-tuktoyaktuk-u-t-faculty-students-take-science-rendezvous-across-canada">Read more about Science Rendezvous at U of T</a></h3> <p>Here’s a look at some of the fun activities from this year’s event.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4594 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%201%20DNA%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> See those white specks in the liquid? That’s my DNA. Volunteers at the Mount Sinai Hospital and SciHigh booth extracted it from a sample of Gatorade I gurgled. &nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4595 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%202%20Blue%20Sky%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> The <a href="http://www.blueskysolar.utoronto.ca/">Blue Sky Solar Racing</a> team from U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering showed off the&nbsp;newly retired solar-powered vehicle. <strong>Ben Mucsi</strong>, an engineering student and member of the Blue Sky team,&nbsp;says a new model will be unveiled in August.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4596 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%206%20cockroach%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> This Madagascar hissing cockroach may look nasty, but U of T’s department of ecology and evolutionary biology volunteers assured us they were harmless.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4597 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%207%20bug%20bites%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> “It’s good!” said this brave kid after munching on some mealworm granola, made by the U of T Bug Bites entomophagy club.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4598 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%2010%20newtonian%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> What do you get when you mix water with corn starch? This gooey non-Newtonian fluid! It turns from liquid to solid when pressure is applied. U of T’s chemistry department filled a kiddie pool with the mixture, allowing people to feel what it's like “to walk on water.”</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4599 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%2013%20VR%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> The department of chemistry also brought virtual reality company VRPlayin to campus to showcase a space exploration game.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4600 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%2012%20nitrogen%20train%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> All aboard the liquid nitrogen train! Scientists from U of T’s physics department used the smoky stuff to teach attendees about superconductivity.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4601 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%204%20telescope%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> Attendees got to take a peek into the cosmos using the Astronomy &amp; Space Exploration Society’s telescope.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4602 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%203%20photo%20astronaut%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> Want a photo with an astronaut? Science Rendezvous has you covered.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4603 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%205%20robots%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> Students from Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition showed off their <a href="https://www.team1325.com/">remote-controlled invention</a>.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4604 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%208%20cell%20jello%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> The department of cell and systems biology found a novel – and gooey – way of explaining the makeup of cells.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4605 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%207%20seismic%20750%20x500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> U of T’s Seismic Design Team tested out Kinex structures on their earthquake simulation “shake table.”</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__4606 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/17-05-15%20SR%2011%20face%20paint%20750%20x%20500.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> Face painters were on hand to transform kids into their favourite animal – or even their favourite element.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 15 May 2017 17:58:02 +0000 Romi Levine 107651 at From Toronto to Tuktoyaktuk: U of T faculty, students take Science Rendezvous across Canada /news/toronto-tuktoyaktuk-u-t-faculty-students-take-science-rendezvous-across-canada <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">From Toronto to Tuktoyaktuk: U of T faculty, students take Science Rendezvous across Canada</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/17-05-12%20Science%20Rendezvous%20main%201140%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=EPsni67a 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/17-05-12%20Science%20Rendezvous%20main%201140%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=SQFzCniS 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/17-05-12%20Science%20Rendezvous%20main%201140%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=56eACFuB 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/17-05-12%20Science%20Rendezvous%20main%201140%20x%20760.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=EPsni67a" alt="Science Rendezvous "> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Romi Levine</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-05-12T16:34:32-04:00" title="Friday, May 12, 2017 - 16:34" class="datetime">Fri, 05/12/2017 - 16:34</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Kids learned about biology at U of T Scarborough's Science Rendezvous celebrations last year (photo by Ken Jones)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/romi-levine" hreflang="en">Romi Levine</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Romi Levine</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/ibbme" hreflang="en">IBBME</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/education" hreflang="en">Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-rendezvous" hreflang="en">Science Rendezvous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-engagement" hreflang="en">Science Engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science" hreflang="en">Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">“I'm hoping we light a little spark in these kids so they can discover and learn”</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>It took two days and five flights for Ƶ PhD student <strong>Daniel Szulc</strong> to get to Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories – all for the sake of science.</p> <p>Szulc is running programming for the territory’s celebration of <a href="http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/">Science Rendezvous</a> – a Canada-wide science and engineering festival for the entire family, which takes&nbsp;place this&nbsp;Saturday. &nbsp;</p> <p>The<a href="http://www.ibbme.utoronto.ca/"> Institute of Biomaterials &amp; Biomedical Engineering</a> (IBBME) student will be flying on a tiny plane from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik and Aklavik throughout the day, running interactive workshops for children living in remote areas so they feel included in the day-long fun. The free festival engages students of all ages.</p> <p>“We're running some demos with the classrooms where the children and students can do hands-on experiments and actually experience being a scientist,” Szulc says. “I'm hoping we light a little spark in these kids so they can discover and learn.”</p> <h3><a href="http://www.sciencerendezvousuoft.ca/">Here's how you can celebrate Science Rendezvous at U of T</a></h3> <p>He&nbsp;described the&nbsp;area he'll be working in&nbsp;as&nbsp;“absolutely beautiful.”</p> <p>“Because it's so remote, it's really difficult to get materials up here and get individuals up here so bringing science up here can allow kids to&nbsp;get a chance to interact with things that they don't normally interact with,”&nbsp;says&nbsp;Szulc.&nbsp;</p> <p>Science Rendezvous, now in its 10th year, was the brainchild of U of T&nbsp;<a href="http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards/uprofessors.htm">University Professor</a> <strong>R. J. Dwayne Miller</strong>, who&nbsp;having been inspired by a similar event in Germany, decided to launch a festival in Canada in partnership with universities and organizations all over the country.</p> <p>At U of T's downtown Toronto campus, there's plans to once again celebrate&nbsp;science in a big way. Students will get to explore outer space using virtual reality, watch an earthquake simulation and learn about edible bugs. Check out the exhibits lining St. George Street, take a tour of the campus’s state-of-the-art labs and participate in the Canada 150-themed Science Chase scavenger hunt.</p> <p>“Science is about asking questions, solving problems, challenging dogma,” says <a href="http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards/uprofessors.htm">University Professor</a>&nbsp;<strong>Molly Shoichet</strong>, U of T President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong>'s senior adviser&nbsp;on science and engineering engagement.&nbsp;“Imagine what we would be doing if we didn't? We probably would still be using leaches to cure diseases.</p> <p>“Science Rendezvous ignites that spirit of discovery, engaging us all to invent a better future.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Robots, solar cars, rockets, satellites, and drones, oh my! Come see them all at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SR2017?src=hash">#SR2017</a> this Saturday, May 13th! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OdySci?src=hash">#OdySci</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChooseScience?src=hash">#ChooseScience</a> <a href="https://t.co/kZa3aCdrCe">pic.twitter.com/kZa3aCdrCe</a></p> — SR UofT (St. George) (@UofTSR) <a href="https://twitter.com/UofTSR/status/862668731591348224">May 11, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p>Unfortunately, U of T Scarborough’s Science Rendezvous activities, which were to take place at the Toronto Zoo, have been cancelled due to a strike.</p> <p>Last year, the festival was attended by 300,000 people. Miller, like Szulc, sees it as an opportunity to inspire a new generation to “unleash their inner geek.”</p> <p>“Everybody's born a scientist. Everybody's curious. We just need to get that instilled in a way that it's part of a lifelong pursuit so you stay thinking critically.”</p> <p>This year, all Science Rendezvous sites are taking part in a water-testing experiment.</p> <p>“It'll be a good opportunity to engage the local communities, and to get excited about water science and create a picture of the water health in Canada,” says Katie Miller, Science Rendezvous’ executive director. “They will upload the results to the website. It will create an overall picture of what is going on around the country.”</p> <p>In the Northwest Territories, Szulc will be running the water-testing experiment and will be teaching high school students how to produce energy through water splitting.</p> <p>“Then we're having elders come in to have their perspective on water – how they assess water, really trying to create culturally-relevant programming so students can see that their culture and their life here also connects to science, and they can use science to enhance it,” Szulc&nbsp;says.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TBT?src=hash">#TBT</a> to these young scientists having a great time at SR2016! Come to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SR2017?src=hash">#SR2017</a> and these fashion choices could be yours! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OdySci?src=hash">#OdySci</a> <a href="https://t.co/TBmFhbSbnH">pic.twitter.com/TBmFhbSbnH</a></p> — SR UofT (St. George) (@UofTSR) <a href="https://twitter.com/UofTSR/status/855089685542170624">April 20, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p>Science Rendezvous is a lot of fun, but it’s also a chance for scientists to showcase their work to a wider audience, says Professor Miller.</p> <p>“It's a great opportunity for the scientists themselves to give back to the general public, tell them what they're doing with public money and explain what it's good for,” he says.</p> <p>The event also helps to ignite a passion for science that many scientists feel is under threat south of the border.</p> <p>“Now more than ever it's becoming apparent at how much we need to be more active and engaging our general population,” says Katie Miller. “For a while, it was assumed it was seen as being important, and now we really need to re-engage with the general population on a regular basis and keep that importance relevant in their mind.”</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 12 May 2017 20:34:32 +0000 Romi Levine 107505 at U of T’s Science Rendezvous 2016: walk on water and watch drones fly /news/u-t-science-rendezvous-2016-walk-water-and-watch-drones-fly <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">U of T’s Science Rendezvous 2016: walk on water and watch drones fly</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-05-04-science-rendezvous-advancer-lead-image-sized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=8o-CwDov 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-05-04-science-rendezvous-advancer-lead-image-sized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=zsYBoetT 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-05-04-science-rendezvous-advancer-lead-image-sized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ZRcJSgz1 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-05-04-science-rendezvous-advancer-lead-image-sized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=8o-CwDov" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>lanthierj</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-05-04T10:09:41-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 4, 2016 - 10:09" class="datetime">Wed, 05/04/2016 - 10:09</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/krisha-ravikantharaja" hreflang="en">Krisha Ravikantharaja</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Krisha Ravikantharaja</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-rendezvous" hreflang="en">Science Rendezvous</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>This Saturday marks the ninth year of Science Rendezvous, a free science street festival for scientists of all ages, at the Ƶ’s St. George campus.</p> <p>Organizers promise “five city blocks of hands-on learning and discovery that moves state-of the-art laboratories and research facilities into city streets” and&nbsp;“brings kids face-to-face with the scientists, engineers, clubs, hobbyists, and researchers at the frontiers of innovation”.</p> <p>If you know a&nbsp;student interested in&nbsp;a behind-the-scenes look into science as a career, Science Rendezvous is a great opportunity,&nbsp;said&nbsp;<strong>Maisha Zaman</strong>, a spokesperson for Science Rendezvous, Ƶ Chapter.</p> <p>“Occurring simultaneously in over 30 sites across Canada, Science Rendezvous offers visitors of all ages a chance to meet with world-class researchers, take part in experiments and, above all, have fun while discovering science in a whole new way,” Zaman said.</p> <p>Last year's Science Rendezvous included robots, exploding fruit,&nbsp;giant bubbles&nbsp;– and a chance to see U of T's solar race car.&nbsp;</p> <h2><a href="/news/science-rendezvous-2015-solar-cars-giant-bubbles-melting-metal-and-much-more">See highlights from 2015</a></h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The solar car is back this year, by popular demand.</p> <p>“We hope that the attendees of Science Rendezvous will gain a greater appreciation and understanding of green energy and engineering innovations in general, and be inspired to become involved in similar projects in the future,” said <strong>Zhexiang Wang</strong>, member of the Ƶ Blue Sky Solar Racing advancement team.</p> <p>“I think seeing a car that raced across Australia, that was designed and built by students who were once in their shoes is a pretty good way to spend a Saturday!”</p> <p>Other must-see events on May 7 include an inaugural interdisciplinary science show which features a self-flying drone demonstration by the Institute for Aerospace Studies and something called the 100-ft Non-Newtonian Dash (where the World’s Largest Non-Newtonian Running Track will apparently allow participants to simulate the sensation of walking on water).</p> <p><br> <iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D-wxnID2q4A" width="560"></iframe></p> <p>Professor <strong>Dwayne Miller </strong>of chemical and biological physics is responsible for bringing the event to Toronto after inspiration struck while he was at similar festival in Germany. Miller’s goals of boosting student interest and public involvement in STEM fields remain at the core of the annual event.</p> <p>“Everyone is born a scientist: you’re naturally curious,” Miller says. “Somewhere in our education system we beat it out of them. So the idea is to bring back the curiosity that people have and give them a venue to ask their questions and talk to real scientists.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I thought it was really important to see what kind of science is going on in their backyards.” &nbsp;</p> <p>This year’s theme is superpowers. Organizers put out a call for young scientists and superheroes to help defeat an evil mastermind who’s attempting to take over the world by unleashing a series of disasters as part of “The Amazing Science Chase.”</p> <p>The Science &amp; Tech Street Fair will take place along St. George Street between Harbord and College, and will feature 50 pavilions. Past years’ events have welcomed 15,000 attendees of all ages.</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__852 img__view_mode__media_large attr__format__media_large" height="453" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2016-05-04-science-redezvous-string-embed.jpg?itok=CKK1vVqC" typeof="foaf:Image" width="682" loading="lazy"></p> <p>This year marks the first time that Science Rendezvous will be the Kick-Start Event to the Natural Science and Engineering Council of Canada’s National Science and Technology Week (Science Odyssey).</p> <p>Science Rendezvous is one of many events the university hosts annually to promote scientific literacy.</p> <h2><a href="http://scienceengagement.utoronto.ca/science-leadership-program-2016-1/">Read about the Science Leadership Program</a></h2> <h2><a href="/news/science-literacy-week-280-events-across-country">Read about Science Literacy Week</a></h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For live tweets from Science Rendezvous on Saturday, follow @uoftmedicine and the hashtag #SR2016</p> <p>For&nbsp;more information&nbsp;visit <a href="http://sciencerendezvousuoft.ca/">http://sciencerendezvousuoft.ca/</a></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 04 May 2016 14:09:41 +0000 lanthierj 13978 at Stolen crystals and exploding fruit: Science Rendezvous at U of T /news/stolen-crystals-and-exploding-fruit-science-rendezvous-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Stolen crystals and exploding fruit: Science Rendezvous at U of T</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-05-01T09:02:41-04:00" title="Friday, May 1, 2015 - 09:02" class="datetime">Fri, 05/01/2015 - 09:02</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Every year, thousands of kids and parents explore Science Rendezvous at U of T (photo by Jon Horvatin)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/terry-lavender" hreflang="en">Terry Lavender</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Terry Lavender</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/top-stories" hreflang="en">Top Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-rendezvous" hreflang="en">Science Rendezvous</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> A giant crystal has been stolen from the natural science museum, and it’s up to you to solve the clues and find out who the thief is. If you can solve the mystery, you’ll get a crystal of your own to take home.</p> <p> That’s the challenge facing young sleuths in the Amazing Science Chase May 9 at the Ƶ’s downtown campus. The chase is one of the highlights of <a href="http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/">Science Rendezvous</a> at U of T this year, says engineering student <strong>Daniel Szulc</strong>, co-chair of U of T Science Rendezvous.</p> <p> The brainchild of U of T chemistry and biological physics professor<strong> Dwayne Miller</strong>, Science Rendezvous began as a joint program between U of T, Ryerson University, York University and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in 2008. Since then, the annual event has grown to include 40 of Canada’s top research institutions and over 75 community partnerships across 30 cities in 10 provinces.</p> <p> At U of T, the annual event is one of myriad ways the university promotes science in the community, from <a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/science-history-understanding-isaac-newton">free talks in public libraries</a> to <a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/science-literacy-week-u-t-night-sky-jurassic-park">Science Literacy Week events</a> on campus&nbsp;(to learn more visit<a href="http://scienceengagement.utoronto.ca/">&nbsp;Science &amp; Engineering Engagement</a>, headed by <a href="http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/awards/uprofessors.htm">University Professor</a> <a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/molly-shoichet-wins-l-oreal-unesco-women-science-award"><strong>Molly Shoichet</strong></a>).</p> <p> Next week's science chase is meant for children, but adults will also find lots of activities at the Science Carnival, says Szulc’s co-chair, psychology PhD student <strong>Olivia Podolak</strong>. The carnival – featuring a submarine, a solar-powered car, exploding fruit, origami cranes, colliding galaxies and much more – takes place along St. George Street from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.</p> <p> More than 30 groups, including the Girl Guides of Canada, the Planetary Society, FIRST Robotics and many U of T faculties and&nbsp;departments, such as pharmacy, kinesiology, mathematics and chemistry, are taking part.&nbsp;</p> <p> U of T’s Scarborough campus is also taking part in Science Rendezvous, with activities at both the Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. (<a href="http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/university-of-toronto-scarborough-campus/">Read more&nbsp;about UTSC Science Rendezvous events</a>.)</p> <p> Besides the U of T specific activities, science lovers can take part in other Science Rendezvous events in Toronto. A separate Science Chase – this one aimed at adults and coordinated by former U of T Science Rendezvous organizer <strong>Jessica Sonnenberg</strong> – takes place in downtown Toronto. The Toronto Science Chase will see hundreds of teams race across the downtown core completing more than 20 larger-than-life problem-solving challenges of mind and body.</p> <p> “What Jessica did was she basically took U of T’s event and put it on steroids, so it’s Toronto-wide now,” Podolak says. &nbsp;(<a href="http://sciencerendezvous.ca">Read more about&nbsp;the Toronto Science Chase and other Science Rendezvous activities</a>.)</p> <p> An estimated 15,000 adults and children will participate in Science Rendezvous at U of T this year. The annual event is made possible by the hard work of hundreds of volunteers, mostly graduate and undergraduate students, says Podolak.&nbsp;</p> <p> Szulc says the long hours are made worthwhile by the reaction of the people who come out for the event each year.</p> <p> “Last year at Science Rendezvous, I was manning the liquid nitrogen booth and a little girl came up to me and she told me how she had never done anything like this, and now she really wants to study chemistry. It was so great to hear that.”</p> <p> Podolak agrees. “I love this festival because it shows people all the opportunities there are in the sciences. It makes science accessible. People come out and they say ‘Whoa, that’s really cool!’”</p> <p> For more information about U of T Science Rendezvous, go to <a href="http://sr.escalator.utoronto.ca">http://sr.escalator.utoronto.ca</a></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-05-01-science-rendezvous.jpg</div> </div> Fri, 01 May 2015 13:02:41 +0000 sgupta 6993 at Science Rendezvous returns to U of T /news/science-rendezvous-returns-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Science Rendezvous returns to U of T</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2014-04-30T06:25:58-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - 06:25" class="datetime">Wed, 04/30/2014 - 06:25</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Enjoying the view from a different angle on Elephant Thought's gyroscope at the 2012 Science Rendezvous (all photos by Jon Horvatin)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/terry-lavender" hreflang="en">Terry Lavender</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Terry Lavender</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/features" hreflang="en">Features</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-rendezvous" hreflang="en">Science Rendezvous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/science-engagement" hreflang="en">Science Engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/community" hreflang="en">Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Welcoming the community to the popular science festival </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>Slime, squishy circuits, robots, polar bear cubs and electronic bats. They'll all be there on Saturday, May 10 as the Ƶ participates in the seventh annual Science Rendezvous event.</em></p> <p><em>Science Rendezvous highlights and promotes science by showcasing the best and most innovative research in Canada. The ultimate goal is improving student enrolment and public investment in science and technology in the future, says Science Rendezvous executive director Kelsey Miller.</em></p> <p><em>“Science Rendezvous offers visitors of all ages a chance to meet with world-class researchers, conduct experiments, and above all, a chance to have fun while discovering science in a whole new way,” Miller says, noting that it is always scheduled for the day before Mother's Day, to place an emphasis on the importance of women in science.</em></p> <p><em>The St. George campus will host a street carnival, a science chase and lab tours, say U of T Science Rendezvous co-chairs <strong>Jessica Sonnenberg</strong> and <strong>Olivia Podolak</strong>. Activities take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s theme is busting common science myths and misconceptions, Sonnenberg says.</em></p> <p><em>Ƶ Scarborough is also taking part. UTSC student volunteers will lead activities and displays at the Toronto Zoo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to encourage Zoo visitors to think about what makes animals so amazing and unique through the prism of science, says organizer <strong>Andrew Peters</strong>,&nbsp;a UTSC biological sciences grad student. Many of the activities involve migratory birds, since Science Rendezvous coincides with Migratory Bird Day this year, but other zoo inhabitants, including a polar bear family, will also be taking part.</em></p> <p><em>Science Rendezvous began at U of T seven years ago at the instigation of Chemistry and Biological Physics professor <strong>Dwayne Miller</strong> and has since spread across the country. This year 80 organizations are involved with 300 events scheduled in 30 cities.</em></p> <p><em>“Everyone is born a scientist,” Professor Miller told U of T News in 2012. “You’re naturally curious. Somewhere in our education system we beat it out of them. So the idea is to bring back the curiosity that people have and give them a venue to ask their questions and talk to real scientists. I thought it was really important to see what kind of science is going on in their backyards. It’s Canadian and we should celebrate that. The other really important feature is to attract the best and brightest in science.”</em></p> <p><em>U of T News asked Sonnenberg and Podolak about this year’s Science Rendezvous and what visitors to the St. George campus can expect.</em></p> <p><strong>What’s happening at Science Rendezvous at U of T this year?</strong><br> This year, we chose to focus on busting common science myths and illuminating little-known science facts. We have arranged for every department to bring forth a misconception or interesting fact about their field so that attendees can bust these myths one by one for a chance to win a prize. U of T St. George's site is, as far as we know, the first and only site to implement an overarching theme to unify our exhibits.</p> <p>Another event that we are really trying to promote this year is our Science Chase. Science Chase is very similar to the Amazing Race TV show, where participants will be required to complete a series of scientific challenges in a race against the clock. This year's story line has our participants acting as aliens who have landed on planet Earth and will participate in activities to teach them about humans' way of life.</p> <p><strong>What are you personally looking forward to at Science Rendezvous?</strong><br> Olivia: I'm not sure what I'm most looking forward to since there's always so much going on at the event! I guess I'm most looking forward to seeing the final product after months of the hard work put in by our executive team and all of the participating departments.</p> <p>Jessica: I would have to agree with Olivia on that one -- seeing the end product (an amazingly successful event, of course) is one of my favourite parts. My other favourite is first thing in the morning, when everyone is just finishing setting up and the first few kids come running onto the site - I love the excited look on their faces.</p> <p><strong>Who comes out to Science Rendezvous?</strong><br> Olivia and Jessica: Last year, we had approximately 10,000 visitors come by our festival. The visitors ranged anywhere from university professors to young children being pushed around in strollers by their parents. It's an all-ages festival meant to shape the minds of Canada's youth, while increasing the public’s involvement in the world-class research that is happening right here at home, so everyone is welcome to come. We train our volunteers to run their exhibits in ways that can be tailored to visitors' level of expertise in the area, as to maximize the amount of learning that goes on.</p> <p><strong><img alt src="/sites/default/files/2014-04-21-ScienceRendezvous-373.jpg" style="width: 375px; height: 250px; margin: 10px; float: right;">How many volunteers are involved? What do they do?</strong><br> Jessica and Olivia: Typically, we have just over 500 volunteers participate in our event. The volunteers are either departmental (i.e., hired by the department to run department-specific demonstrations) or general. The general volunteers help run the show by offering support to the departments, or by manning the general demonstrations or booths, such as first aid stations, face painting stations, freezing flowers with liquid nitrogen (and having kids smash them after!), promoting the event in Toronto by handing out balloons and brochures, etc. The volunteers consist of professors, graduate students, undergraduate students, and even some very keen high school students. (<em>Pictured above: chemistry students create ice cream using liquid nitrogen</em>.)</p> <p><strong>How did you personally get involved in Science Rendezvous?</strong><br> Olivia: I first got involved as a general volunteer. I was an undergrad student at McMaster, but since they didn't host Science Rendezvous, I would commute to the St. George campus to participate instead. When I came to U of T to do my Master's, I wanted to get more heavily involved, especially in the organization of the festival, so I took on the role of executive volunteer coordinator. Based on my work last year, I was hired as co-chair with Jessica!</p> <p>Jessica: I took a bit of a different, less logical path with Science Rendezvous. I was a member of an organization called ChemClub in my first year of grad school, and one of their roles in the Chemistry department is to organize the Chemistry pavilion at UofT. I signed up to co-organize the event with an SR veteran that year and loved it so much I became the head organizer for Chemistry in my second and third years. This year I decided I wanted to try something new with a bit more responsibility so I applied for the co-chair position at U of T.</p> <p><strong>What makes you passionate about science?</strong><br> Olivia: I am constantly curious about the world we live in. The fact that there is so much to explore in the natural world is both inspiring and a little daunting, which I think ultimately fuels my passion to learn more.&nbsp;</p> <p>Jessica: To be honest, I think my brain is hardwired that way - when I look at the world all I see is questions, and constantly looking for more answers is what drives me. I find science beautiful and terrifying, exhilarating and frustrating, logical and confusing, and ultimately, that's what I love about it!</p> <p><strong>What's your own area of research?</strong><br> Olivia: I'm doing my PhD in psychology. I investigate how musical training and exposure fine-tunes certain brain processes. More specifically, I'm studying the psychological mechanisms that allow musicians to read music.</p> <p>Jessica: I am just finishing up my PhD in inorganic chemistry. For my research I focus on developing more sustainable catalysts for use by the pharmaceutical industry. Specifically, I am looking at iron catalysts to potentially replace toxic and expensive precious metal catalysts.</p> <p>For more information about Science Rendezvous activities on the St. George campus, visit the Science Rendezvous website at <a href="http://sr.escalator.utoronto.ca">sr.escalator.utoronto.ca</a>, or <a href="https://sr.escalator.utoronto.ca/home/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/MAP-for-web.jpg">view the event map</a>. Information about activities at the Toronto Zoo can be found at <a href="http://torontozoo.com/events/">http://torontozoo.com/events/</a>. The Science Rendezvous main website is at <a href="http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca">http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca</a>.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2014-04-21-science-rendezvous-twirling.jpg</div> </div> Wed, 30 Apr 2014 10:25:58 +0000 sgupta 6053 at