SciXchange annual report 2024
Let’s Talk Science
At SciXchange we offer a number of programs, through Let’s Talk Science, to meet the needs of the organizations that we partner with and by extension the youth that we serve.
2531 elementary students
825 high school students
225 students from the community
Elementary School
- 36 virtual sessions for elementary school students
- 28 in-person sessions for elementary school students
- NEW - Rural Outreach Trip - we engaged 162 students over three days, visiting three schools in Whitney, Maynooth and Combermere, Ontario
- 2531 students engaged
High School
- 31 sessions hosted on TMU campus (chemistry, computer science and medical physics labs)
- 1 virtual eclipse session
- 825 students engaged
Community Partnerships
We also partner with a number of community organizations. These partnerships allow us to go beyond a school setting to engage participants of various backgrounds within their communities. The format of these programs varies based on the requirements of our partner organizations.
- 6 community centers
- 26 visits
- 225 students engaged
Special Community Events
Eclipse Programs
On April 8th, 2024, Southern Ontario experienced a total or near-total (depending on location) solar eclipse. This offered us a unique opportunity to capture the imagination of the public while sharing moon research and highlighting international contributions to and cooperation in space exploration.
Pre-Eclipse Programming (March-April)
Leading up to the eclipse, SciXchange hosted several workshops for youth about astronomy and the eclipse. These workshops were facilitated virtually in late March and early April leading up to the eclipse on April 8, 2024. The workshops included opportunities for youth to participate in hands-on activities about the moon and explore various cultural understandings about the moon.
The Eclipse Gallery showcased the original Under One Moon (external link, opens in new window) video series alongside informational posters on the path of totality, the eclipse, and the impact of sunlight through cyanotype printing.
- The series featured 4 videos exploring Nigerian cultural astronomy, Asian representation, and various eclipse-related topics.
- During the event (March 9), the SciXchange team engaged with 30 children and 40 adults, fostering curiosity and discussion about the eclipse.
At our interactive table at the Ontario Science Centre, visitors explored the eclipse by trying on eclipse glasses, creating pinhole cameras, and learning about the path of totality using our Decolonial Atlas map
- Over two days (March 11 & 12), the SciXchange team engaged with approximately 550 people
We developed 3 virtual workshops (Micro:Bits Eclipse, Eclipse Math, Phases of the Moon) and delivered them 10 times to youth in March and April
- These sessions reached 770 students across 3 community centres and 39 classrooms
- Students from 8 school boards participated, including TDSB, CSV, YRDSB, YCDSB, DPCDSB, OCSB, SMCDSB, and independent schools.
2 astronomers delivered live presentations and Q&A sessions with youth, providing engaging educational experiences. Thanks to our partnership with the French Consulate, we were able to offer sessions in both English and French, featuring an international astronomer.
- In total, 360 students were reached through these sessions, with some classes attending both a workshop and a talk, bringing the total student reach to approximately 930.
An information table and activity booth were set up in Niagara Falls, engaging visitors with educational resources about the eclipse, an Oreo activity, and 2 scaled models of the Earth and Moon.
- On April 6, approximately 300 people participated
- On April 7, the booth reached around 400 visitors.
- Our outreach coordinator, Leigh Paulseth, also participated in a local media interview (external link, opens in new window)
A video series, Under One Moon (external link) , was developed for Niagara Parks and the eclipse gallery; this series was also shared with classes to introduce them to cultural astronomy and the eclipse. The series included an introductory video plus 4 short speaker videos by:
- Dave Kirsh, TMU Astronomy Instructor
- Dr. Parshati Patel, Independent Science Communicator
- Dr. Bhairavi Shankar, Founder of Indus Space
- Adaeze Ibik, PhD Candidate at University of Toronto
Solar Eclipse Programming
SciXchange hosted two public events during the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 - one on campus at Toronto Metropolitan University, and one at the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls, Ontario. These events provided safe viewing opportunities for the public while furthering the reach of our eclipse programming. At each event there were eclipse glasses available for free to the public, information about how to safely view the eclipse, and a hands-on activity for youth to participate in.
At the Butterfly Conservatory, TMU graduate students ran an information table, distributing eclipse glasses and providing guidance on eye safety. Our booth also offered a pinhole viewer activity for youth, which turned into an arts & crafts project due to cloud cover.
- 400 eclipse glasses were given out at the booth
- 200 youth participated in the pinhole viewer activity
- 250 people experienced totality with TMU Astronomer Dave Kirsh.
- In total, we engaged roughly 550 people
We hosted an eclipse watch party at Kerr Hall Quad, open to the public, where eclipse glasses were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. An activity table with pinhole viewers was also set up for visitors.
- Total of 1,200 eclipse glasses were given out
- 500 people experienced the peak of the eclipse in the Quad
- Our event was featured in CBC News Coverage (external link)
Four SciXchange volunteers at the eclipse booth at the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls.
From left to right: Veronica Kurkjian, Hania Imail, Sadia Bajwa and Mei
At our Eclipse Watch Party at TMU, attendees sit in the quad, wearing eclipse glasses and eagerly awaiting the solar eclipse.
Photo by Sarah McIntyre
Soapbox Science
Our annual Soapbox Science (external link) event hosted at The Word on the Street (WOTS) (external link) was held on September 28, 2024 at Queen's Park, Toronto. Soapbox Science is a global public outreach platform for promoting women and non-binary scientists and the science that they do.
- 11 speakers (women and non-binary researchers)
- 24 student volunteers
- Estimated 760 participants engaged (general public)
2024 Speakers
- Fatima Lukmani - PhD Candidate, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Meghan Koo - PhD Candidate, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Dr. Sarah McColman - PhD Fellow, University of Toronto
- Taha Sajjad- PhD Candidate, York University
- Crizza Ching - PhD Candidate, University Health Network
- Sara Cheema - PhD Candidate, Queen's University
- Alex Innanen - PhD Candidate, York University
- Andreea Bosorogan - PhD Candidate, University of Toronto
- Eleanor Cloves - PhD Candidate, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Reema Kumar - PhD Candidate, York University
- Dr. Sara Mahdavi - Adjunct Professor, University of Toronto
Soapbox Science 2024 during Word on the Street at Queen's Park in Toronto.
Video by Kathleen Espiritu
Science Rendezvous
Science Rendezvous is Canada’s annual celebration of science. This free festival, targeted to all age groups, makes science accessible to thousands of people with a day of engaging, informative, and interactive events.
Our event took place on Saturday, May 11, 2024 in the heart of our campus with 21 dynamic booths. With an impressive gathering of over 1000 participants and the dedication of 100 volunteers, our event was a resounding success.
- 21 dynamic booths
- Over 1000 participants engaged (general public)
- 100 volunteers
- TMU community members from Physics, Medical Physics, Architectural Science, Computer Science, Urban Water, Food & Soft Matter Materials, Psychology, Engineering Outreach, Toronto Met Day Camps and Geography and Environmental Studies
- Local partners included Skywide Amateur Radio Club (external link, opens in new window) and Visions of Science (external link)
You can check out the event photos in our SR 2024 gallery (opens in new window) and learn more about the event in our SR 2024 annual report (opens in new window) .
We engaged with 1000 adults and children.
A volunteer engaging with participants at the Psychology Booth.
Photo by Clifton Li
Our volunteers made Science Rendezvous 2024 a great success.
Photo by Clifton Li
Indigenous Outreach - Stoodis Science
“Stoodis” is Indigenous slang for “let’s do this”. Our programming under the banner of Stoodis creates opportunities for elementary and high school students, and the general public, to learn from Indigenous knowledge holders.
TMU Learning and Teaching Conference
On May 16, 2024, our Indigenous Outreach Coordinator Caleb Wesley and Brooke Filsinger (Advisor to the Dean in Indigenous Education) led an interactive session at the TMU Learning and Teaching Conference.
Titled “Indigenous Science Through Experiential Learning: An Interactive Hide Tanning Experience,” the session immersed participants in hands-on hide tanning while exploring its cultural significance and practical applications. It also emphasized the integration of Indigenous Knowledges into teaching, showcasing Indigenous pedagogies as a means to re-center education and challenge conventional learning approaches.
Technovation Girls Toronto
Technovation (external link) is a global tech education nonprofit organization. Technovation Girls (external link) allows girls across the world to use technology to solve problems in their lives and their communities. Our director, Dr. Emily Agard, serves as the ambassador for the Toronto chapter.
In 2024, we had a total of 40 girls, with 14 teams achieving a 100% completion rate. Out of these, 8 teams participated in our optional Toronto Pitch Celebration Event, showcasing their high engagement in the program, despite the event not affecting the global competition results.
5 teams in our chapter advanced to the global semi-finals.
Our program was bolstered by the support of 16 mentors, 22 speakers, and 6 judges.
Eureka Summer Camp
In the summer of 2024, SciXchange hosted our 12th annual 4 weeks of Eureka! day camp in collaboration with engineering and athletics.
- 67 campers engaged
- 2 TMU student science instructors
