Natural world beckons during nine-day festival

Science Rendezvous showcases science at U of S and features hands-on activities

A national celebration of science and technology is coming to the University of Saskatchewan.

The 10th Science Rendezvous Festival in Saskatoon — one of hundreds of events across 30 Canadian cities — showcases science achievements and features handson activities for people of all ages.

Organizers are working with Let’s Talk Science at the University of Saskatchewan to make the event, which is based at the Geology Building, a success.

Special events co-ordinator Laurel Sacco, a graduate student in biology, said this year’s festival should be the biggest yet. More organizations from around the province and departments within the U of S will add showcases and activities. “There’s a lot of new things,” Sacco said. “I’d like a ton of people to come and participate and have a good time.”

A boat design contest, mining and agriculture activities and computer science games are among the activities scheduled for Saturday. Guided tours of some of the university’s most well-known facilities, including the Canadian Light Source, the Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Rayner Dairy Research and Teaching Facility, will also be available.

“I think one of our favourite things is whenever a kid or an adult comes away saying, ‘Oh, that’s awesome’, and then you see them go tell somebody else about it,” Sacco said.

The festival is part of Science Odyssey 2017, a Canada-wide series of science-focused events from May 12 to 21, led by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Zoe Gillespie, a biochemistry student and one of the Let’s Talk Science volunteers, said she hopes events like these can impress the public — and give a younger generation food for thought.

“If students can get inspired about science, that would be the best outcome,” Gillespie said.

One of our favourite things is whenever a kid or an adult comes away saying, ‘Oh, that’s awesome.’