Canada's National Science Festival is Taking Science to the Streets

World-leading scientists come face-to-face with the public, May 11, 2013. Be There!

TORONTO, May 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Science Rendezvous, Canada's largest science festival is opening the doors of over $5-billion in state of the art research laboratories to the public across the country this Saturday.

Science won't just be limited to the lab, this interactive festival takes science to the streets, shopping malls, community centers, hospitals, and universities. There will be a series of stage-show demonstrations at Dundas Square (an outdoor venue in the heart of downtown Toronto) with host Dan Riskin of Discovery's Daily Planet. Plus events unique to Science Rendezvous, including the Amazing Science Chase at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Windsor, and University of Toronto. Modelled after the TV series, the Amazing Science Chase is a scavenger hunt-style competition that blends a science and physical challenge.

New to the festival this year is the Vaccine Tent at UofT, where participants will learn the stories of patients suffering from various vaccine-preventable diseases. Visitors will also have the chance to meet experts in the medical field, and debunk issues of public health.

Additional new exhibits include a demonstration that allows presenters to hold fire in the palm of their hand, a pool-playing robot, creating invisibility, and the chemistry of fireworks.

Science Rendezvous has something for the whole family, from the chemistry of ice cream to the physics of rock and roll.

Over 2,000 of Canada's greatest researchers, engineers, and scientists from 80 partner organizations will open their doors and close city streets to present exciting demonstrations, hands-on activities, and explosive experiments.

Toronto alone has 17 venues participating, including 4 universities, 2 hospitals, the Ontario Science Centre, and libraries. Across Canada, there will be experiments and activities for the kids, lectures for the adults, and interactive demonstrations for people of all ages. And, It's all FREE!

"Our goal is to inspire the next generation of researchers and innovators by bringing them face-to-face with the leaders of today and re-invigorating a passion for discovery in Canadian youth. That is why the Science Rendezvous festival is so important, it brings science and the public together so we can explore, create, and discover right there on the spot. That is what Science Rendezvous is all about, doing it for yourself," said Kelsey Miller, Science Rendezvous executive director.

Dan Riskin, co-host of Discovery's Daily Planet echoes Ms. Miller's assertion, "This is a unique event that gives ordinary people a chance to indulge their curiosities, to experience the thrill of discovery with some of the best scientists and science communicators in the world. There's a pure joy that comes from finding something out yourself, instead of looking it up on Wikipedia, and Science Rendezvous brings that kick to families across the country."

Participants will be able to ride a hovercraft at the University of British Columbia, race a SCUBA tank-powered cart at the University of Regina, discover glow-in-the-dark crystals at Memorial University, and compete in Science Jeopardy at UOIT.

With over 300 events across 30 cities and thousands of mind-blowing activities, Science Rendezvous is lighting the spark of curiosity in young minds from Vancouver to St. John's.

Find your nearest Science Rendezvous festival site at www.sciencerendezvous.ca.

Saturday, May 11. Be There!

www.sciencerendezvous.ca
(Images, video, and interviews available)

SOURCE: Science Rendezvous

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Felicia Christmas
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