This exciting free science exhibit is coming to Terry Fox Secondary on Feb 2nd as it travels across Canada as a part of Innovation150 to celebrate our nation’s 150th birthday. Fox is lucky enough to be chosen as one of 79 stops across the country in 2017. It is brought to us by Perimeter Institute fully staffed and includes 3 elements designed to inspire the innovator in everyone. The Exhibition is available to Terry Fox Students on Feb 2nd and 3rd during the day and we are opening up the school for a public event on Thursday Feb 2nd from 4pm-9pm. There will be science themed music, drama skits, movies and food so dress up in your best SCIENCE costume and come on in!
What is the Perimeter Institute?
The Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics is a world class physics research facility in Waterloo, Ontario that all Canadians can be very proud of. It began with our own Canadian innovator Mike Lazaridis (founder of BlackBerry) making a personal donation of $100 million dollars to found the Perimeter Institute. The physicists at Perimeter are working to understand the most fundamental properties of our universe. The extensive list of studies includes neutrinos, superfluids, black holes, dark matter, gravity waves, string theory, quantum computing and the Higgs Boson. Perimeter researchers have received numerous awards for their work including two back to back Nobel Prizes for Physics in 2015 and 2016! In addition to research, Perimeter also has an educational outreach mandate that includes inviting students and teachers into their facility for intensive summer workshops. I was fortunate to be one of the 40 teacher participants from all over the world in 2014. They also create classroom resources kits for physics teachers that have reached over a million students to date.
https://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/
MAIN EXHIBITS
Gym Exhibition {BIG GYM} (~150 people can walk through per hour)
Experience the process of science through engaging hands-on, mind-expanding exhibits in our Terry Fox Gymnasium. A 20-30 min walk through this exhibition will spark curiosity, promote creativity, encourage critical thinking, celebrate collaboration and inspire exciting and more in-depth discussions of science both in the classroom and around the dinner table.
Interactive Presentation {Theatre} (~336 people per presentation)
This dynamic Interactive Presentation will share the wonders of science and its importance to innovation. The Power of Ideas will be explored as we look to Canada’s innovative past, present and future to encourage people to imagine the endless opportunities that await them.
The Maker Mobile {Room 104} (~30 people per session)
The Actua Maker Mobile is a moving maker space full of exciting technology including 3D printers, a laser cutter, programmable circuit boards and more, allowing participants to experiment with hands-on learning and to create their own innovations.
Public Open House – Feb 2nd from 4pm-9pm
Entrance is free and will include live music by our Rock the Fox students, a Big Bang skit by our Drama students, an SD43 Space Station science fair contest, a robot sumo competition, a student art gallery, a public costume contest, university speakers and cool science movies. There is only one other school in the lower mainland (in North Van) hosting the Tour, so our target audience is essentially Burnaby to Hope. We could be entertaining over a 1000 people on Feb 2nd and I am confident Terry Fox staff and students will make it a fantastic event.
Vision
Below is what I am seeing in my mind for our open house. The three underlined exhibits are brought to us fully staffed by the Power of Ideas Tour. The rest are our own side attractions. The theme of the event is SCIENCE!
SIDE ATTRACTIONS
Photo Booth = Science Costume Contest ($100 prize!)
Stage = Science Rocks, Big Bang Skit, Mayor’s address and more.
STEM Experiment Fair = Walkthrough a Science Fair Contest ($100 Prize!)
Robot Sumo = Battle Sumobots using 6 sumo robots created by our Robot Club students
Science Movie Mayhem = Watch the coolest physics/science movies (Interstellar, Gravity etc) in rooms upstairs
Author’s Alley = Engage with Local authors of science books
Triumph Table = Experience Triumph, BC’s own particle accelerator
Post-Secondary Plaza = local institutions are invited to set up in a classroom to interact with the public
Food Court = Hunger Management, Reel Mac & Cheese and Cravings Kettle Corn will be here selling Einstein Burgers and Dark Matter Cola!
6 Contests have been launched to help promote the event. $100 Prize Each!
Contest Info
Thank you to everyone who is so generously helping to make this event a smashing success. SCIENCE is in the spotlight and Terry Fox Secondary is going to be the place to be on Feb 2nd.
Edward Csuka
ecsuka@sd43.bc.ca
Physics Educator
Terry Fox Secondary
