Faculty of Science - Science Outreach News

TSI Outreach Program Administrator, Carolina Cruz-Vinaccia, wins President’s Award

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 19:29:41 +0000

Congratulations to Carolina Cruz-Vinaccia, the Outreach Program Administrator at the Trottier Space Institute and Physics Department for being awarded the President's Award for Administrative and Support Staff! Winners of this award are honoured for the quality of their work, service to the community, innovation and initiative.

A STEAM day to celebrate 70 years of McGill's Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 14:21:55 +0000

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of McGill’s acclaimed Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados and to promote STEAM education to local students, McGill partnered with the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), and the U.S. State Department for a full day of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) activities and presentations.

West Island high schoolers participate in summer research at McGill’s Gault Nature Reserve

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:57:30 +0000

This summer, Gault Nature Reserve hosted four high schoolers from the West Island Black Community Association for this year’s Youth Biodiversity Internships Program. Led by Professor Bruno Tremblay, this collaboration brought together a diverse range of community members from McGill and beyond to connect on their passion for science. For 5 weeks, youth conducted fieldwork at Gault with McGill students, explored how scientific research happens in nature and made links to their own lives and future careers.

Unleashing Creativity at the McGill Physics Hackathon

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:01:01 +0000

On November 15^th – 17^th, the Trottier Space Institute and the Department of Physics hosted its 9^th Annual McGill Physics Hackathon. This friendly coding competition brought together 163 people, from grade 10 high school students to graduate students. Participants had a total of 24 hours over the span of 3 days to create computing and physical science projects in teams. Learn more here.

Celebrating 10 years of Chemistry Outreach!

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:54:50 +0000

Congratulations to the Chemistry Outreach group, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary during McGill’s Open House on October 27^th! Over 250 people joined the festivities and enjoyed hands-on activities, magnificent demos, and chemistry-themed refreshments throughout the day.

Family Science Day: McGill’s Family Friendly Foray into Science

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 19:14:40 +0000

by Phuong Hoang, Faculty of Science Communications Associate

A Resounding Success: Celebrating McGill’s Biodiversity Festival

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:32:07 +0000

The Biodiversity Festival

Mark your calendars! Family Science Day: September 28th

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:46:09 +0000

On September 28^th between 9 am and 4 pm, join McGill’s Office of Science Outreach, STEMM Diversity @ McGill, the Trottier Space Institute and McGill Physics Outreach, for free science activities for families. Activities will be held both indoors and outdoors at the downtown campus and are intended for children ages 6 and up.

Registration is required for some activities.

For more details and the full schedule, visit this link.

McGill’s Computer Science Camp inspires next generation of coders

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 13:33:25 +0000

After a hiatus of about a decade, the McGill Computer Science Summer Camp once again welcomed students from Montreal high schools and CEGEPs to the downtown campus this summer. The camp was a group effort organized by students, staff and faculty across the computer science community. Students participated in four packed days of talks, hands-on activities and coding sessions, to learn about computer science.

Frederic Bertley receives honorary doctorate degree for his astounding work in science education

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:45:38 +0000

Frederic Bertley was amongst a group of leaders to receive an honorary degree from McGill this spring. For the past eight years, Bertley has served as the President and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), which features the largest science outreach program in North America.

Science fair fun in Kahnawà:ke

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 22 May 2024 14:46:37 +0000

Every year in Kahnawà:ke, a Kanien:keha’ka community on Montreal’s South Shore, students present their projects at a science fair organized by the Kahnawà:ke Education Center (KEC).

For more than 15 years, KEC Science Curriculum Consultant Kathy Walsh has supported students at schools across the community as they prepare projects in the weeks leading up to the annual fair. This year, she and KEC Science Projects Liaison Mya Bordeau enlisted the assistance of McGill’s Office of Science Outreach to bring McGill students into the classroom as mentors.

Inspiring the next generation of scientists: Future Innovators Science Fair

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:05:19 +0000

On March 27th, in collaboration with Real Ventures, McGill's Chemistry Outreach Group joined other STEM experts and educators for the Future Innovators Science Fair at the Royal Charles Elementary School for International Women’s Month.

Celebrating all of our science outreach volunteers

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:20:53 +0000

National Volunteer Week: April 14-20, 2024

The theme for this year's National Volunteer Week is Every Moment Matters. It highlights the importance of every volunteer and each contribution they make at a moment when we need support more than ever. The sharing of time, skills, empathy, and creativity is vital to the inclusivity, strength, and wellbeing of our communities.

Thousands flock to McGill to take in solar eclipse

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:48:45 +0000

On Monday April 8th, thousands of people flocked to McGill's downtown and MacDonald campuses, as well as Gault Nature Reserve, to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event: the total solar eclipse. The three spectacular events not only included a viewing party with free glasses, but also educational activities to inform the public on this astronomical phenomenon. Read the Reporter article on the eclipse festivities to learn more.

Support science for everyone on March 13!

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 17:58:19 +0000

One element that makes McGill24 so special is the energy that our students bring to the event. They use this day to raise funds for student-run projects and initiatives, and this year the Faculty of Science has the largest ever number of crowdfunding projects.

Highlighting women in STEM to engage youth

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 18:31:59 +0000

“Les STIM au féminin” is a new campaign geared towards high school and cegep-level youth which highlights the initiatives of women in STEM and raises awareness about pathways and careers in science through a series of informative videos.

The Hackathon returns to McGill campus

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 17:17:31 +0000

On November 3-5^th, the McGill Physics Hackathon held its eighth annual event in person at the Rutherford Physics Building. The event attracted around 150 hackers, from CEGEP and undergraduate backgrounds, who joined forces to produce spectacular projects.

Congratulations to all those who participated!

With community outreach, science is for everyone

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:01:14 +0000

The latest article by Made by McGill explores the mission, diversity, and impact of McGill’s many science outreach initiatives. The collective efforts of outreach groups and departments not only expand the scope of the University itself, but also engage members of the public with accessible science. This fosters a sense of curiosity and opens a new world of possibilities to all.

Learn more about these science outreach initiatives.

Travelling seeds: a free lesson plan for schools

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 17:50:49 +0000

To celebrate Science Literacy Week, the Office of Science Outreach released a free lesson plan for elementary school teachers. The lesson, titled “Travelling seeds” explores how seeds are dispersed. The activities and discussions center inquiry-based learning, to encourage nature discovery through hands-on experiences and observations.

The lesson was shared with science consultants across English and French school boards in the Greater Montreal area and has already received over 40 downloads.

Celebrating Science Literacy Week for the 9th year

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:16:35 +0000

On September 23rd, the Office of Science Outreach, STEMM Diversity @ McGill and TSI Outreach hosted interactive family workshops for Science Literacy Week. Over 150 people participated, learning about tree growth, the diversity of science and scientists, the survival of extremophiles and more!

An Inspiring Event in Science Engagement

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 12:38:46 +0000

May 15^th and 16^th, Falling Walls Engage Hub Canada hosted 30 science outreach practitioners, from across the country, for a bilingual event titled “The Power of the Pitch: A Funding and Skills-building Workshop for Canadian Science Engagers”.

In a series of workshops, participants learned first-hand from funders what they are looking for in successful proposals and created quick pitches for new science engagement projects.

Exploring Space and Science in Chisasibi

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 17:37:01 +0000

The outreach branch of McGill’s Trottier Space Institute and Branches joined forces to offer a new science program called Outbound Explore. The groups collaborated with the Cree community of Chisasibi in Northern Quebec, to share experiences and knowledge with youth on science and post-secondary education at McGill, with the hopes of inspiring the next generation of scientists.

McGill Takes Part in 24 Hours of Science

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 16 May 2023 18:08:43 +0000

24 Hours of Science—Quebec’s biggest science and technology festival—took place May 5 and 6. McGill’s many science outreach programs joined in on the annual event again this year, with the Chemistry, Physics, Trottier Space Institute, Earth and Planetary Sciences, STEMM Diversity, Science Outreach, and Gault Nature Reserve teams contributing to the fun.

Congratulations to STEMM Diversity@McGill!

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 13:06:13 +0000

The results are in for the 2023 Principal’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media and STEMM Diversity@McGill is among the runners-up recognized in the Group category.

Combining Art with Science

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 19:40:58 +0000

Using real geochemical data from the archaeological site of Itzan, Guatemala, and computer-generated artwork, PhD candidate Benjamin Keenan (Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences) has produced a video that brings the ancient Mayan civilization to life. Funded by a FRQ DIALOGUE grant (the first for the Faculty of Science), his video has been shown at over 10 exhibitions and conferences, both locally and internationally. Learn more about Benjamin's project.

What's it like to be a Biology student at McGill?

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 19:07:44 +0000

Join five current Biology students as they share their stories of finding their place and pursuing diverse paths within the discipline in this new video: A Glimpse Into Biology at McGill. To learn more about the inspiration for this video, read Video marks launch of Department of Biology outreach campaign.

Science Outreach is hiring!

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 14:18:03 +0000

We're looking for a Science Outreach Educator to join our team. They will assist the Faculty’s Science Outreach unit in promoting and enhancing the visibility of outreach, provide training opportunities to McGill students and staff using evidence-based best practices and assist with the communications and evaluation components of the Outreach program. Find out more.

The Redpath Museum moves outdoors this summer

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 13:25:45 +0000

Enjoy the beautiful summer weather and join the Redpath Museum outdoors to see and touch specimens from their natural history and world cultures collections. Fossils, skulls, minerals, ancient pottery... you never know what you'll find!

Every Wednesday and Thursday through August 18th: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Different themes each day. Cancelled if it rains.

Sherbrooke St. West and McGill College, east side, inside the Roddick Gates. Look for the white pop-up awning.

Outreach skills and entrepreneurship

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 17:31:46 +0000

Wondering how the skills you develop doing science outreach can help with your future endeavours? Read about Dr. Allie Huerta (PhD in Chemistry and former star member of the Chemistry Outreach Group) and her new startup, AIM Colours — combining cosmetics and technology.

Science students share their passion with school students across Québec

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 15:39:56 +0000

McGill students participated for the first time this year in École en réseau and Cœur des sciences, two programs that provide programming for elementary and secondary school students across Quebec. Read about McGill students Jeremy Dawkins and Kirsten Crandall's engaging collaborations with École en réseau and Cœur des sciences in McGill dans la ville's article

McGill Chemistry Outreach Group founders describe the group's work in new tribute

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 19:08:16 +0000

Founding members of the award-winning McGill Chemistry Outreach program have documented the inception and work of the group in Beyond exploding balloons- bringing the science of chemistry to the public, a new piece in the Canadian Journal of Chemistry.

Get to know a scientist: Herpetologist Jessica Ford

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:47:38 +0000

Watch herpetologist Jessica Ford explain the work she does with the easily overlooked, yet massively important tadpoles.

Office of Science Outreach launches online inquiry-based training

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:45:41 +0000

The Office of Science Outreach is excited to take its inquiry-based theory training completely online and asynchronous. Intro to McGill Science Outreach and Inquiry-Based Learning is now available on myCourses, McGill’s learning platform, for anyone interested in participating in the training. The Office created this course specifically to meet the needs of McGill outreach students but it is available to all students, faculty, and staff across the University and in other institutions.

Promoting diversity in science

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 13:21:14 +0000

STEMM Diversity @ McGill co-founders Jessica Ford and Charles Xu detail their paths as scientists and what led them to come together to form STEMM Diversity @ McGill in the new article Promoting diversity in science.

Learn about unEarth , one of McGill's impact200 finalists

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:01:56 +0000

unEarth is one of the impact200 Bicentennial Student Sustainability Challenge finalists' and their platform and supplemental educator's manual are designed to reach out and teach youth about sustainability through environmental systems thinking.

STEMM Diversity publishes paper and blog post

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 14:46:35 +0000

STEMM Diversity group members have recently published a blog post with Cell Mentor, and a paper in Trends in Ecology.

Science literacy for everyone: Science Literacy Week and Chemistry Walk and Talk

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 20:59:26 +0000

Science Literacy week is happening across Canada from September 20th to September 26th, and there many activities to participate in right in Montreal. For the seventh consecutive year, McGill Library is planning a range of activities.

CRISPR for kids

�㽶��Ƶ — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 16:24:39 +0000

What is CRISPR? Science writer and masters student Ada McVean explains CRISPR for kids in a TikTok as part of an internship with McGill's Office of Science Outreach for the NSERC PROMOTE program! Ada is currently doing her masters in the Damha Research Group at �㽶��Ƶ making anti-CRISPR oligonucleotides.

CRISPR for kids

Virtual Eurêka Festival launches

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 13:28:12 +0000

The 2021 Eurêka Festival launched on June 30th, 2021, and McGill Outreach is participating! L'Archipel Virtuel is the first digital edition of the festival.

Principal's Prize for Public Engagement through Media: BrainReach is runner-up

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 14:05:10 +0000

The 2021 Principal's Prize for Public Engagement through Media winners and runners-up were named in April, including Faculty of Science outreach group BrainReach.

Family Science Day continues McGill’s community outreach tradition

�㽶��Ƶ — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 13:51:41 +0000

McGill's science outreach groups celebrated McGill's Bicentennial with an all day event that drew in over 200 participants to 16 activities and talks.

Celebrating Science Odyssey with Some SMOrES

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 15:10:31 +0000

The SMORES (Students at McGill Outreach in Earth Sciences) club joined in on the 2021 Science odyssey campaign with a series of exciting one hour online workshops for kids, captivating over 65 participants.

Record numbers connect, learn and have fun at McGill Physics Hackathon

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 05 May 2021 18:15:09 +0000

The 5th edition of McGill Physics Hackathon brought together a record breaking number of participants in this 2020 online event.

“The show must go on!”: Undergraduate Poster Showcase brings students to the virtual stage

�㽶��Ƶ — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 13:16:25 +0000

McGill Science student Catherine Wang attended the Faculty of Science’s Undergraduate Poster Showcase to support her peers. Here, she shares her impressions of the event.

Bicentennial Family Science Day

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 19:48:13 +0000

We're celebrating 24h de science and McGill's Bicentennial as we move into another century of community outreach! The Science Outreach groups have all kinds of fun in store in this Faculty of Science Signature Event. Join in the celebration! For more details, please visit the full schedule found here.

Family Science Day: What is neuroscience? History of neuroscience at McGill

�㽶��Ƶ — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:14:49 +0000

As part of McGill’s Bicentennial and 24h de science, join BrainReach on a virtual tour of the brain and its fascinating neurons followed by a brief history of neuroscience. Young minds will discover how scientists at McGill set on a journey to understand the human brain.

Topic: What is neuroscience? History of neuroscience at McGill

Time: May 8, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

McGill's Chemistry Outreach Group wins Principal's Prize

�㽶��Ƶ — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 14:55:55 +0000

The Chemistry Outreach Group has taken home the Principal’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media, winning the inaugural 'Collaboration' category for groups of undergraduate or graduate students that engage with the external community and/or the media.

The Prize recognizes the vital role outreach groups play in supporting the University’s commitment to being of service to society and engaging with the broader community.