Science Rendezvous Kingston a triumphant post-pandemic return to STEM family fun

Science Rendezvous Kingston a triumphant post-pandemic return to STEM family fun

Article content

More than 5,000 people headed to the Leon’s Centre in downtown Kingston on Saturday to experience the best of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) — and more — at the 2023 Science Rendezvous.

Advertisement 2

Article content

The event — which took over the entire bowl and concourse on the Leon’s Centre main floor, as well as an upper level — marked a full return to a sense of normalcy for organizers and attendees since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There wasn’t that sense of fear, but a sense of, ‘I can walk freely here,’” organizer Lynda Colgan marvelled during an interview with the Whig-Standard. “Even last year, we had a much reduced event, and there was still anxiety. Many people just stayed outside, and there was a nervousness about being in a big crowd.

“Yesterday it was quite remarkable to see people out and talking to strangers, chit catting among themselves. It was really a wonderful feeling to see everyone so absolutely delighted to be back together.”

Article content

Advertisement 3

Article content

Sophie Villemure demonstates “Spot” the Boston Dynamics robot dog, a research tool at Queen’s University’s Ingenuity Labs. the robot was one of several that could be spotted throughout the displays and activities at Science Rendezvous at the Leon’s Centre in downtown Kingston on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Sophie Villemure demonstates “Spot” the Boston Dynamics robot dog, a research tool at Queen’s University’s Ingenuity Labs. the robot was one of several that could be spotted throughout the displays and activities at Science Rendezvous at the Leon’s Centre in downtown Kingston on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Photo by Meghan Balogh /The Kingston Whig-Standard

In 2019 Science Rendezvous Kingston hosted one of the largest Science Rendezvous events in the country, with 5,200 visitors attending the event. That success led to the Kingston event’s organizers being awarded the inaugural STEAM Big! Award from Science Rendezvous Canada in 2020.

This year, 5,337 visitors entered the doors of the Leon’s Centre to explore 50 booths dedicated to making STEM research and information more accessible to families, especially children.

Volunteer Ailia Syeda, right, helps Ashur Wickett explore ultrasound imaging on “Mo” the practice dummy used by students of medicine at Queen’s University. The Cardiovascular Imaging Network booth was one of 50 different interactive displays and demonstrations featured at Science Rendezvous at the Leon’s Centre in downtown Kingston on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Volunteer Ailia Syeda, right, helps Ashur Wickett explore ultrasound imaging on “Mo” the practice dummy used by students of medicine at Queen’s University. The Cardiovascular Imaging Network booth was one of 50 different interactive displays and demonstrations featured at Science Rendezvous at the Leon’s Centre in downtown Kingston on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Photo by Meghan Balogh /The Kingston Whig-Standard

More than 420 volunteers made those activities and demonstrations come to life for visitors.

“We had everything from plant doctors, to learning about filmmaking and plastics, the heart, the lungs, physics, robots,” Colgan said. “We had booths representing every science and technology department at Queen’s University, as well as citizen science groups like the Royal Astronomical Society, Research Casting, the library and children’s authors.”

Advertisement 4

Article content

Colgan marvelled and delighted that on such a beautiful spring day, so many families would prioritize the trip downtown to learn about science.

“One of the things that has become more and more obvious with Science Rendezvous is that this is a community event and something that people anticipate, and enjoy,” she said. “This is something that people want to be part of, whether they are a presenter or a visitor. There’s this wonderful sense of this is all of us together doing this.”

Seeing parents and their kids interacting with scientists who are actively conducting groundbreaking research is something Colgan describes as “magic.”

“When I see people of all backgrounds coming and speaking with researchers and asking them questions, it really just breaks down so many barriers,” she said. “I think that’s what’s so important. It gives people a chance to speak to a researcher in their own way, and get an answer back that is accessible and understandable. It demystifies a lot of things that scientists do.”

Visitors to the 2023 Science Rendezvous Kingston event got up close with a replica skeleton of a Saurophaganax, the largest terrestrial carnivore in North America during the late Jurassic period. The life-sized dinosaur skeleton was the centrepiece for 50 different booths featuring interactive demonstrations and displays in science, technology, engineering and math, and more at the Leon’s Centre on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Visitors to the 2023 Science Rendezvous Kingston event got up close with a replica skeleton of a Saurophaganax, the largest terrestrial carnivore in North America during the late Jurassic period. The life-sized dinosaur skeleton was the centrepiece for 50 different booths featuring interactive demonstrations and displays in science, technology, engineering and math, and more at the Leon’s Centre on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Photo by Meghan Balogh /The Kingston Whig-Standard

Colgan also believes in the power of interaction to debunk some myths surrounding scientists and researchers, who may hold a mental image of “crazy Einsteinian hair” for people who don’t work in the field.

“Scientists are every-day people like you and I who are passionate about what they do, and who have fun with what they do,” she said. “(Debunking myths) makes me joyous.”

For more information about the 2023 Science Rendezvous Kingston event, or to access online learning materials, visit www.queensu.ca/science-rendezvous.

mbalogh@postmedia.com

Luke Lavoie explores an interactive floor map of Canada at Science Rendezvous at the Leon’s Centre in downtown Kingston on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Luke Lavoie explores an interactive floor map of Canada at Science Rendezvous at the Leon’s Centre in downtown Kingston on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Photo by Meghan Balogh /The Kingston Whig-Standard

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Join the Conversation

Advertisement 1

#Science #Rendezvous #Kingston #triumphant #postpandemic #return #STEM #family #fun

What’s your Reaction?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
TOP