Celebrate Dr. Bondar’s 25^th anniversary of her flight in space and Canada’s 150^th through the unique lens of her exquisite photographs.  

The exhibition is called:  “Light in the Land ~ the Nature of Canada” and consists of 14 large fine art photographs that are examples of the Canadian landscape from sea to sea to sea. 

To “kick off” the exhibition in each location (which can stay on display for several weeks at each science centre), Dr. Bondar will be present to interact with school children and youth during school hours or some other time that works for the children and youth of the host centre, as well as adults through, for example, a talk at an evening reception.

Dr. Bondar will address topics reflecting the interests of the host organization’s community that could include Women in Science, SteAm ~ putting the Arts in STEM, Creativity and Innovation 101, and Discovering Nature through the Lens of a Camera. 

Please send your expressions of interest to:  jrowland@therbf.org

People from across Manitoba and the country celebrated Terry Fox Day by checking out a special exhibit in the national hero's honour at the Manitoba Museum.

The exhibit, Terry Fox: Running to the Heart of Canada, has an in-depth look at Terry's epic 143-day, 5,373-kilometre journey from St. John's, N.L. to Thunder Bay, Ont. Read more

TORONTO, July 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Last night, the Ontario Science Centre awarded the seventh annual Innovation in Mas' Award to Concept Costume Creators, led by Whitfield Belasco, for "Sport Fishing in the Caribbean Sea" at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival King and Queen Competition and Show at Lamport Stadium. "Sport Fishing in the Caribbean Sea" was designed and performed by Osei Brand, who was previously recognized by the Ontario Science Centre in 2015 with an Honourable Mention distinction. Read more

Science Timmins will get their wish to have an official name attached to a laneway behind city hall.

Antoine Garwah, President and CEO of Science Timmins, wrote a letter to the city, which was briefly discussed at Monday's council meeting.

The lane runs between Pine and Cedar and will be called "Science Village Lane."  Read more

Looking back now, the student developers of a location-based game drawing crowds at the Ontario Science Centre would seem to be prescient geniuses.

Their character-driven game features a cartoon creature that evolves as the player moves from one location to another, collecting information and cards that can only be obtained by physically walking to different parts of the museum.

It's called BitMorph, and if you think it sounds a little like "Pokemon Go," the science centre's director of communication won't disagree. Read more

A new family event is coming to Leduc #1 Energy Discovery Centre.

After the centre’s annual Rib Cook-Off had to be cancelled due to the poor economic climate, staff worked to come up with a new event that could take its place this year.

And that event will be called Discovery Day at Leduc #1.

“They get to hear the roar of the motors and feel the rig shake,” Lawrence commented.

“Most people have never stood on a rig nevermind one that’s running and there’s no place else in Canada, if not North America, that you would ever be able to experience this,” she added.

“It’s going to be a blast.” Read more

The Poke and Hope Gang from North Central Seniors went on an excursion Wednesday to try their hand at a competition-size billiards table stretching six feet by 12 feet long at The Exploration Place that dates back to 1910 when it arrived via the BX sternwheeler.

With pockets a bit narrower, the balls a bit smaller and the men playing poker pool, they all had to reach a bit farther than on most pool playing days so it quickly became a matter of who adapted the fastest to see who would rule the table.

"Man, that's a lot of table," said Howard Foot, president of the North Central Seniors Association, gazing at the sheer girth of the green surface on which the billiard balls rested before the break.

The Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre acquired the table in 2003 by donation from the Kordyban family with the stipulation that it be played. Read more

The organizers of the Up Here Urban Art and Music Festival announced this morning the rooftop of Science North will become the canvas for muralists visiting the city as part of the festival, set for Aug. 11-13.

Ella and Pitr, a world-renowned urban art duo from France, are known for their giant rooftop murals that are visible from space and Google Maps. Read more

“We were thinking of calling ourselves ‘The Poop Group’ at trivia night this week,” Bunce said from an office in the Nunavut Research Institute, where she manages the PAWS Project — the People Animals Water and Sustenance Project.

Part of the project, which has partnered with both territorial and federal government agencies, is an effort to better understand the health of dogs in the North, said Julien, who is leading the study. Read more

What follows is an invitation from ASTC to join them in international science centre day activities.  Please note that we are discussing potential Canada-wide activities that can help generate awareness nation-wide.  If you have ideas about what this could be, please send send them my way.

ASTC has joined with science center networks worldwide to establish the first annual International Science Center and Science Museum Day (ISCSMD) on November 10, 2016, with the support and assistance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Council of Museums (ICOM).  This day of global celebration, the first of its kind for our field, has been launched to help science centers everywhere gain recognition and support for the enormous contributions that they make in communities all over the world.  Our goal is to ensure that the activities of as many centers as possible are included in this campaign to recognize and support our field. 

ISCSMD will be an annual high-visibility event for the global science center community. This year, the day will focus on global sustainability. A quick glance at the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will tell you that our science centers and museums are already deeply committed to engaging visitors on these important topics. 

This is your chance to show how your science center is making a difference in your community.  On November 10, we will celebrate with a variety of activities at science centers as part of a worldwide campaign to recognize our great work on global sustainability throughout the year.  We want to include as many CASC institutions as possible in this message. We hope that you will join your science centre colleagues in preparing for and participating in the ISCSMD!  Here’s how you can include your work in this special day and the associated campaign:

• ·       Mark your calendars and save the date of November 10, 2016.  Be sure that you are included among the thousands of institutions that are invited to participate. Gain global recognition for your on-going activities, launch new initiatives, and share in the campaign to support our field.
• ·       Visit the ISCSMD Website.  Add your stories to those of science centers and museums around the world that have written about their on-going activities in global sustainability.  This will be a vivid demonstration of how we are helping millions of people learn about these global challenges and become real agents of change. We need your examples to further strengthen our message. Don’t delay!  Non-ASTC members are welcome to participate
• ·       Begin now identifying one or several activities (ongoing or planned) that might be designated on November 10, 2016 as supporting global sustainability and the objectives of ISCSMD.   The ISCSMD website’s toolkit will soon include logo files and communication suggestions to help you promote your ISCSMD activities. In the meantime, go to the website and complete the form at www.iscsmd.org/map/form/ so we can include your participation on our interactive map, which will be unveiled officially at this year’s ASTC annual conference in September. Don’t wait to include your institution on the map!
• ·       Stay tuned!  There is a lot more planned for ISCSMD, and we will keep you updated on all new activities and events as they are being developed in collaboration with science center networks throughout the world.

Thanks in advance for helping our field to increase our visibility and relevance through this worldwide collaboration.