U of T Scarborough is continuing its partnership with the Toronto Zoo and Let’s Talk Science with an aim to get kids excited about studying science.
Faculty and student volunteers will bring the classroom to the zoo with the goal of inspiring the next generation of scientists as part of Science Rendezvous, a national festival of STEM that takes place at more than 300 sites across Canada.
The event, which takes place at the Toronto Zoo on May 12th, is in partnership with Let’s Talk Science, a national charitable organization that aims to get kids involved in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
Amy Jenne, a PhD student in chemistry at U of T Scarborough who is coordinating student volunteers for the event, says she’s looking forward to sharing her passion for science.
“This program introduces young children to science by relating it to the animals and everything they see at the Zoo,” says Jenne.
Initially wanting to become a teacher, Jenne says she really enjoys opportunities to share her passion while being able to balance it with her research. Let’s Talk Science offered an ideal opportunity to do so.
“The university also has its hand in outreach and trying to bring the community and learning closer together, which is really important work,” she says.
While activities at this year’s Science Rendezvous will revolve around the theme of ‘Citizen Science,’ the goal revolves around that of accessibility.
The idea of accessible science for youth and adults is something co-lead Lucy Yam, a fourth-year Neuroscience specialist student, is also passionate about.
This is Yam’s third year participating in Science Rendezvous. Along with Jenne, she will also embark on UTSC’s first outreach trip to the Yukon with Let’s Talk Science this May. The team will visit six schools and work with approximately 500 students during the four day trip to Whitehorse, Carcross, and Watson Lake. The event is free for the communities and gives school children a chance to engage in experiments.
“Travelling to a community with fewer external resources for opportunities to get involved with the sciences is something I’m really looking forward to,” says Yam.
Featured speakers at this year’s Science Rendezvous include Professor Maydianne Andrade, Professor Marc Cadotte, and Assistant Professor Tod Thiele, all from the Department of Biological Sciences. They will host mini presentations on their own respective research that will be catered towards children.
There will be eight different stations located throughout the Zoo, each meant to engage and teach children about a range of subjects including biodiversity and evolution. This year’s activities will also include extracting DNA from a banana and tracking monarch butterfly migration.
Science Rendezvous will take place at the Toronto Zoo on May 12th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.