Young scientists come together for Science Rendezvous

Gorgeous weather and promises of exciting experiments brought many curious young minds to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College (DC) to take part in Science Rendezvous 2014, a free event designed to promote science awareness.

More than 600 guests visited the UOIT and DC joint north Oshawa campus to check out more than 60 scientific demonstrations and workshops, which included:

• making balloon dragsters
• exploring why Mentos erupt in Diet Coke
• making lava lamps and glitter globes
• exploring why candies are certain colours
• levitating magnets - using science of course, not wizardry

There were also tours of UOIT's Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE) and the Scanning Electron Microscope lab.

At the end of the day the young scientists had an opportunity to test what they learned and win some prizes with a game of Science Jeopardy.

“UOIT was pleased to host Science Rendezvous together with Durham College this year and see so many guests experience science in a unique way through our fun activities,” said Annette Tavares, Lecturer, Faculty of Science and organizer of Science Rendezvous at UOIT. “This is a great way to encourage science learning among younger students, and we look forward to seeing the same levels of excitement in the years to come.”

Science Rendezvous held its inaugural event in 2008 when UOIT, the University of Toronto, Ryerson University and York University saw a need to work together to start an event big enough, and with enough exciting content, to engage the public in the wonders of science and engineering. In 2011 Science Rendezvous went national, and since its beginning it has grown to include 40 of Canada's top research institutions and 75 community partnerships. Today it is the single largest science festival in Canada. 

• View Science Rendezvous 2014 photo gallery