A year ago, Vancouver resident Kurtis Baute decided to quit his job as a science teacher, and in January he moved full time into making YouTube videos for his science-oriented channel.

Now he hunts for massive science projects to take on in the name of increasing science literacy and excitement in young people about the field.

“Whatever the craziest science projects I can come up with that I think are at the border of possible for me to do, you know, I’m looking for those sorts of projects,” he said.

Cycling 140 kilometres with a sundial to prove the Earth is round was one of his first ideas.

“We’re in an age now where we have more science and a better understanding of the universe than ever before, and yet … flat Earth is a movement that’s gaining traction somehow,” he said.

Leaving early on Wednesday morning, Baute will cycle approximately 140km along Highway 33 from Regina to Stoughton — one of the longest straight stretches of highway in the world. Baute said it’s important that the road is straight because it makes measuring the exact distance between locations much simpler.

In Stoughton, Baute will set up a sundial using a metre-long stick attached to a wooden base. In Regina, Casey Sakires, manager of programming at the Saskatchewan Science Centre, will set up an identical sundial.

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