FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Please add to your event festival/event and cultural listings for week of MAY 3, 2009

Science Rendezvous ’09: Close Encounters with Science
Celebrating Science Across the GTA

Science Rendezvous — Where People and Science Meet

TORONTO, April 21, 2009 — On Saturday May 9, 2009, the 2nd annual, day-long public celebration of science, Science Rendezvous, takes place. Over 600 volunteers and leaders in science and technology, representing leading Canadian educational institutions and organizations from across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) come together to make Science Rendezvous a unique and entertaining, free public event, celebrating the world of science. This year Science Rendezvous expands both locations and programming, allowing the public more opportunities to engage in the wide array of free participatory activities.

What ‘s happening in campus and hospital research labs and classrooms across the GTA? How does this research affect the everyday person? When does an idea become a reality? Who are the people leading the way, and who are our future scientific leaders? Why is science and innovation so important for our future? Science Rendezvous ‘ participating partners open their doors, spaces and ideas, delivering communities an engaging experience and look into the fascinating accomplishments of world-class research, education and off-beat science-related activities.

Science Rendezvous is an opportunity for the general public to spend the better part of a day having fun, participating in finding answers to the science in life and a life in science. It ‘s a totally entertaining, insider’s way of understanding what goes on beyond the hallways and behind the doors of science in the search and reach for new discoveries. Science Rendezvous events range from the curiously quirky to the serious side of science. The festival takes place at carnival-style sites on four major university campuses, in cafe, market and bookstore conversations and presentations through hands-on shopping mall demonstrations. It ‘s extraordinary day of over 200 free events taking place in over 20 outdoor and indoor venues across the region, engaging the curious nature of adults and kids in a unique day of fascinating exploration and participation.

Science Rendezvous launched on May 10, 2008 attracting thousands of public attendees. Building on the success of the inaugural year, Science Rendezvous is pleased to add Ryerson University as a new participating festival partner and location, and Sipping Science-talk to the scientists as a new outreach programme for 2009. Sipping Science takes place in diverse locations across Toronto (see programmes below).

PROGRAMME LOCATIONS

Toronto, in addition to Malls of Science in Guelph, Newmarket, Oakville, Oshawa, Pickering, St. Catharines.

PROGRAMME EVENTS & PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS
The free festival activities fall into four primary categories: University/Hospital Festival Events/ INVENTours, Cafe Scientifque/Grown-Up Science Fair, Sipping Science–talk to the scientist and Malls of Science. These events and other unique experiences take place at various sites in downtown Toronto and throughout the greater Toronto region. Consult www.sciencerendezvous.ca for specific locations, maps and activity updates.

All Ages and Family programming at Mount Sinai · Ryerson · Sickkids · University of Ontario Institute of Technology · University of Toronto St. George Campus · York University · Malls of Science.

Adult programming at Grown-Up Science Fair · Cafe Scientifique · Sipping Science – talk to the scientists.

INVENTours: University and Hospital Festival Events (all ages)
Participating universities and hospitals present a day of free, outdoor/indoor activities engaging for all ages of the general public. From interactive active games to displays of unusual scientific inventions and discoveries, each host a myriad of science-based events all day long. Watch sumo robots and discover the science behind the dogs of search and rescue. See how physics and chemistry play a role in everyday life. Check out volcano alley. Amaze at the science behind lasers and holograms, to the properties of chocolate and liquid nitrogen ice cream. Meet the real researchers and scientists behind today’s discoveries in health and innovation – all the sciences on display in curious, fun and fascinating ways.

INVENTours present guided tours into state-of-the-art research labs and demonstration activities at university and hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area. It allows participation, interactive fun and family-friendly activities. Locations include: Mount Sinai · Ryerson University · Sickkids · University of Ontario Institute of Technology · University of Toronto St. George Campus · York University.

Sipping Science presented by Let’s Talk Science
Sipping Science – talk to the scientists, is an informal opportunity to join in stimulating discussions on current scientific issues, with scientists in a variety of public locations. These unusual, close encounters with science will take place in select, local cafes, a market, a bookstore, a library and club across Toronto. Scientists will be on hand to bring their expertise to topics, striking up casual conversations about science-related topics with the public. Drop by, have a beverage, and put your two cents on the table! Locations include: JAMcafé in Cabbagetown, Lenuxcaffe, McNally Robinson books at Shops at Don Mills, The Rivoli, the High Park (Roncesvalles Village) Library, St. Lawrence Market (south), York U. site.

Let’s Talk Science is a national charitable organization dedicated to improving science literacy through leadership, innovative educational programs, research and advocacy. As an award-winning agency we have over 15 years experience developing quality learning programs. With a team that includes scientists, early childhood educators and teachers, they are uniquely positioned to develop effective educational programs that engage children, youth and adults in learning and improving science literacy. We have reached well over 1.7 million people across Canada since 1993.

Cafe Scientifique (19+) Presented by Ontario Science Centre
Coming to a pub near you! This will be an extension of the popular series of public lectures hosted by the Ontario Science Centre. Participate in lively discussions with top scientists in an intimate environment. 1 p.m at The Rivoli 334 Queen St. W.

The Ontario Science Centre uses science as the lens to inspire and actively engage people in new ways of seeing, understanding and thinking about themselves and the world. The Centre is also a leading developer of interactive exhibitions for science centres around the world. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario. www.ontariosciencecentre.ca

Grown-Up Science Fair presented by The Treehouse Group
Artists, government workers, teachers, lawyers, musicians, and maybe even some real scientists, will all try their hands at employing the scientific method to find answers to all manner of burning questions, big and small.
at The Rivoli 334 Queen St. W.

The Treehouse Group is a collective of Toronto-area thinkers who facilitate the exchange of ideas by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds. The group shares the view that multi-disciplinary collaboration is central to addressing the issues that face society. The Group has helped organize educational events, conferences, science fairs, and continues its flagship series, the Toronto ideaXchange. www.treehousegroup.org

Malls of Science (For kids of all ages!) presented by Scientists in School
We bring the science to you. While visiting your local mall, look for the interactive displays hosted by Scientists in School and take part in the hands-on activities and demonstrations. Mall locations are: Malvern Town Centre, Oakville Place Mall, Pickering Town Centre, Stone Road Mall Guelph, The Pen Centre St. Catharines, Upper Canada Mall Newmarket.

Scientists in School (SiS) is a dynamic charitable organization dedicated to establishing a strong foundation of science and innovation amongst Canadian youth. Their mission is to ignite scientific curiosity in children so that they: question intelligently; learn through discovery; connect scientific knowledge to their world; and consider a career in science. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, SiS is the ’ field trip that comes to the classroom ‘, providing over 60 half-day, curriculum-aligned, interactive workshop topics that enable elementary students to become scientists in their school. For more information, please visit www.scientistsinschool.ca

For updates and information on Science Rendezvous 2009, visit www.sciencerendezvous.ca .

Media Contact:

Harim Kim Project Manager 416 978 1457		Bill Bobek Director 416 978 1457 wbobek@optics.utoronto.ca
Science Rendezvous operates as a not-for-profit organization.

Science Rendezvous would like to thank the Festival’s funding, participatory and supporting partners for their gracious contributions in financial and in-kind support.

Festival Partners: The Hospital for Sick Children, Mount Sinai Hospital-Samuel Lunenfeld Research, Ryerson University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Toronto, York University.

Sponsors: Institute for Optical Sciences, Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Promoscience, Ontario Centres of Excellence, Toronto Region Research Alliance, University Health Network, Government of Ontario/Ministry of Research and Innovation, Royal Canadian Institute.

Supporting Partners: City of Toronto/Toronto 175, Let’s Talk Science, Ontario Science Centre, Scientists in School, Sci-Tech Ontario/Visions of Science, Treehouse Group.

Media Sponsors: Discovery Channel (TV/Web), NOW, City Parent, Toronto Community News.