The largest celebration of science and engineering in Canada – Science Rendezvous – will be making its epic return to the UM Fort Garry Campus May 13. It will be the first time the event has been held in person since 2019. Join us at UM’s Fort Garry campus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.!

Started in Toronto in 2008, Science Rendezvous is a festival that brings science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) research and innovation out of the lab and onto the street in a festive and engaging style. The festival features stage shows, robotics, virtual reality, large-scale experiments and demonstrations designed to educate and delight the minds of curious individuals of all ages.

Featuring over 40 unique interactive science booths with hands-on experiments, make-and-take projects and demonstrations, this year’s festival is guaranteed to stimulate the mind and excite the senses.

Representatives from UM’s science, engineering, agricultural science, health sciences, and earth science faculties will all be participating in this event. Kids, schools, and parents will be invited to campus to explore the many booths and participate in interactive science activities.

This event is a fun opportunity to connect with other science lovers, share your passion and knowledge and possibly even gain some new practical skills.

“This is an incredible festival that is about more than just science,” says Ayush Kumar, Associate Dean, Faculty of Science. “Science Rendezvous is a celebration of innovation, creativity, curiosity and discovery – bringing mind-blowing concepts from science, technology, engineering and math to life in an epic, engaging and entertaining fashion.”

“This event brings arts and science together, as participants are invited to explore everything from robotics to insects, aviation to electricity, giant bubbles to acid-base painting. If you haven’t attended this event before, young or old, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss!”

Science Rendezvous leadership volunteer Anita Oghenetejiri Elohor Ayam, who has been volunteering for the Faculty of Science since 2019, says she is eagerly waiting to explore all the many booths at the festival, but there is a particular booth that she has her eye on.

“I think [the booth] is called a ‘slime vendor’ or something,” says Oghenetejiri Elohor Ayam. “Apparently, when you step on the slime, if you stay on it for too long, your feet get cleaned. But if you don’t stay on it long enough, your feet get dirty. How is that even possible?”

“I’m honestly waiting for the festival so I can ask them questions about the slime, because it’s mind-blowing and I want to know how it works. I’ll be putting on my sneakers for that day alone just so that I can get my feet dirty and try it out.”

In addition to the many activities and booths listed, this event will also feature live science shows, outdoor entertainment, and will be flanked by some of the cities’ best food trucks, for all the hungry science lovers in attendance.

Participants are not required to register for this event, and free parking will be available at most spots around campus.

For more information visit UM’s Science Rendezvous page.

Science booths and activities that will be present at this year’s festival include:

• Mousetrap – Robot Code Maze
• Oak Hammock Marsh – Critter Dipping
• Royal Aviation Museum – Take flight!
• Electrical Museum of Manitoba – “Current” Curiosity
• Let’s Talk Science
• UMSATS
• Math Mania
• DNA Extraction
• Genetic Traits
• Density of soda
• Acid-base painting
• Science mural
• Chromatography flowers
• Canada Parks and Wilderness Society – Keeping Manitoba wild.
• Magellan – Magellan Rocket Shop
• Human computer interaction lab
• How we see
• Fort Whyte Alive – Wacky Weather
• Science of Sound
• Microbial world
• Hidden math in card games
• DNA workshop
• Cyanotypes
• CSI : Critter Scene Investigation
• Chromatography flowers
• Oobleck run
• Giant bubble

The Science Rendezvous STEAM Big Award is national recognition for the team’s extraordinary vision and leadership as well as their commitment to creating a truly outstanding event.

“The enormous effort and dedication required to bring such an event to fruition cannot be understated. Science Rendezvous is honoured to have such dedicated individuals and groups share our vision and mission,” explains Katie Miller, Executive Director, Science Rendezvous.

The Science Rendezvous UM team embraced the challenge to STEAM Green in 2021, going above and beyond to promote the Million Tree Project through exciting initiatives and activities. A total of 4857 trees were planted by participants of the Manitoba School Tree Planting Challenge, launched on June 10th, 2021, as part of the Million Tree Project. Science Rendezvous volunteers, university staff and students received hundreds of additional trees, not included in this official count. The coordinating team had to face the challenges associated with COVID-19 restrictions but showed their resourcefulness and resilience by adapting their programming and arranging tree pick-ups for students. In the Fall of 2021, another tree giveaway event took place as part of NSERC Science Literacy Week and National Tree Day, resulting in the distribution of an additional 3012 trees! 

Over the course of these events, this coordinating team has expanded their outreach from eight to seventeen communities and engaged almost 60 schools. This project’s reach extended beyond the city limits, with half of the participating sites being in rural areas.

“I have always been a save the earth enthusiast, being part of a project that let me use my skills to facilitate a greener earth was a great opportunity for me. I want to thank my team and I appreciate the spirit of togetherness, especially with regards to the pandemic. Much to their credit we were able to bring this to life virtually to make the project a success. The diversity of students and the knowledge they contributed was amazing.

It warms my heart so much that our actions did not go to waste, seeing the project expand to over 60 schools who joined in this project and getting our hard work noticed. We are deeply honored to receive this award. Winning the Steam Green award and being a part of the team is a phenomenal part of my life that I will always remember and be proud of,” explains Annie Shad, student volunteer and Science Rendezvous team captain.

The coordinating team was also able to supply saplings to an arts centre, a local museum, and a First Nations community. As a result of these activities, the Million Tree Project has gained participants in 18 school divisions, representing 47% of the divisions in the province.

It should be noted that this coordinating team established important partnerships with local agencies which helped maximize the impact of these events. Manitoba Forestry’s Agriculture and Peatlands branch supplied 5000 saplings in addition to delivering trees to several rural schools and planting sites while Trees Winnipeg and Tree Canada helped promote the Million Tree Project through tree-planting events. Other notable connections and partners who supported these initiatives include CCUNESCO Schools, Science First, Parks Canada, Fort Whyte Alive, Shelmerdines Garden Centre and McNally Robinson Booksellers and Author Ariel Gordon. 

Beyond these events, this coordinating team organized a series of virtual public talks discussing important topics like climate, ecosystems, and climate change. These talks featured speakers from various disciplines and backgrounds and were moderated by Dr. Brian Mark, Dean, Faculty of Science. As part of Science Rendezvous, this coordinating team joined the Virtual Science Chase event, encouraging participants to tackle STEAM challenges with their friends and families. 

At this time last year, over 800 university students from across the UM campus, part of the UM STEAM group, (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), were eagerly planning the largest public science and engineering outreach event to ever to be held at the University of Manitoba.

Last year, Science Rendezvous attracted over 2500 children to the Discover Days, the public school days component, and over 5000 on the Saturday public family day.

This year, planning had already begun as of Fall 2019, and so the cancellation left many student volunteers incredibly disappointed.

“Over the years, this event has brought me so much joy; working closely with my fellow volunteers, and watching all of the participants who attend having so much fun. I remember one year, a group of young students from the third grade thanked me for the day, and added that they couldn’t wait to come to university. It made me tear up”, explains Meghan Skakum, student organizing co-chair.

But when you are given lemons, you make lemonade.

Science Rendezvous 2019

Determined not to let a global pandemic completely prevent them from reaching the estimated 132 elementary schools projected to attend Discover Days, the UM student group began brainstorming possible alternatives.

Despite a few bumps in the road planning, it was full STEAM ahead!  They created school packages focused on spring and the senses. The packages explore seasonal changes through a series of games, activities, and citizen science opportunities. Bird migration, window strikes, changes in nature, and observing animals right in their own neighbourhoods feature as significant activities.

After many hours of planning, coordinating, and translating the packages into English and French, while studying for final exams; they succeeded, and out went the packages to schools all over Manitoba.

“Being able to help develop these outreach packages is something I am incredibly grateful for as I know it will reach many kids and put a smile on their face,” says Julia Lucht, student volunteer organizer and co-chair.

“It is unfortunate that Science Rendezvous did not happen. However, our passion to share and showcase research, innovations, and the art of science couldn’t be stopped, explains Deanne Nixie Miao, Discover Days team.

Indeed, the team’s energy is unstoppable. In addition to the school packages, the team launched a virtual flash mob on May 8, 2020, in celebration, dancing to the song Keep Your Head Up, by Andy Grammer, on the UM Faculty of Science YouTube site.

“Science Rendezvous is an experience that reminds everyone of their remarkable potential and shows us all that we can achieve anything,” explains Seema Goel, STEAM Coordinator.

Their joy for science, the fun they have with each other, is truly infectious; without which, Science Rendezvous and Discover Days would certainly not be possible or as popular an event as it has turned out to be.

While Science Rendezvous is cancelled, you can access the entire activity package online at (https://www.mbbirdsecure.com). A website made by fellow students of the course SCI 2000. The timing of the launch of the site is perfect, as it coincides with World Migratory Bird Day, on May 9 and features a wealth of information on birds, nature, and conservation activities to explore, so go ahead and STEAM Big!

It’s a happy coincidence then, that two of Science Rendezvous’ most visible volunteers are family themselves. Daughter Harley Bray (a fourth year UM Chemistry student) and mom Roxana (a high school food science teacher and UM alumnus) have teamed up for the last four years to present their version of the popular children’s television series, “The Magic School Bus”.

Dressed as Ms Frizzle (Roxana) and Liz the Lizard (Harley), its’ the Brays way of making science come alive for attendees, allowing them to investigate such things as the chemical phenomena of lava lamps and the properties of kinetic motion and other forms of energy.

Her initial involvement with Science Rendezvous was completely coincidental. Harley marvels at how one chance interaction with STEAM coordinator Seema Goel turned into a years-long involvement with the event.

“After sitting and chatting with [Seema] for a little while, she looked up and said, ‘Can you help me with something for a quick sec?’  That ‘something’ was organizing Science Rendezvous and ‘a quick sec’ turned into 4 years.  I guess you can say that I was in the right place at the right time.”

Harley Bray says a chance interaction with a STEAM coordinator led to a years-long involvement with Science Rendezvous.

Both mother and daughter cite their passions for working with others and for science as motivation for volunteering. As a teacher, Roxana asserts that her involvement in the event has not only taught her about the importance of communication in science, but has also cultivated her interest and understanding of the role that it plays in our everyday lives.

“Participating in Science Rendezvous has helped me to recognize people’s strengths, challenges and interests, and empower individuals to utilize these tools when developing their passion in the different areas, whether they be in science, art, or something else.”

Roxana Bray, (a high school food science teacher and UM alumnus), aka “Ms. Frizzle” has volunteered for Science Rendezvous for the past 4 years.

Harley agrees: 

“Helping to promote enthusiasm in learning through this national project has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my academic career at the University of Manitoba. We work to engage and transform the general public from passive supporters of science and engineering to active, passionate champions with an understanding of the important role that science plays in our rapidly changing world.”

Having been a part of Science Rendezvous’ leadership team for the past 4 years, Harley believes that her graduation this spring provides her with the perfect opportunity to step down from her primary role and give others a chance to contribute.

“Although I won’t be as intimately involved as I have been in Science Rendezvous [going forward], it has sparked the passion and curiosity within me that we need in tomorrow’s scientists.”

In the meantime, there is still this year’s event to perfect, finalize and bring to fruition. The Brays promise that this year’s new theme and activity will be just as fun for young scientists to experience as previous years.

“We strive to fulfill Ms Frizzle’s motto when it comes to learning: ‘Take chances, make mistakes and get messy!’”

Science Rendezvous is a free annual science festival, a signature marquee partner event of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Science Odyssey Week, May 4 – 19. A celebration of Discovery & Innovation. Science Rendezvous Winnipeg, at the University of Manitoba it is made possible by the efforts of over 600+ student volunteers. It includes indoor and outdoor hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activities.

For more information, please contact:

If you are interested in any aspect of the event, including volunteering or partnership opportunities, please contact: Event Organizer, Kyla Smith, kyla [dot] smith [at] umanitoba [dot] ca.

Media Contact, Jennifer MacRae, jennifer [dot] macrae [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

Photo gallery from Science Rendezvous 2018. Images courtesy of Kira Koop

We asked Rebecca Balakrishnan, career consultant from Career Services at the U of M to tell us more about the benefits of volunteering and how this impacts future job prospects. Here’s what she said:

1. Volunteering is a great way to learn about yourself while building skills for your future.

“It can be really difficult to make career decisions without the context of professional experience,” says Balakrishnan. “If you’ve never had the chance to be in charge, how will you know if you’d enjoy leadership positions? Volunteering can be a safe way to try things out and learn about who you are and what you’re passionate about.”

2. Gain experience that will reflect on your resumé.
“Volunteer positions are often complex and make a meaningful impact on the community – finding a paying job with this level of responsibility can be difficult when you’re just starting out and don’t have much experience,” explains Balakrishnan. “By volunteering, you can take on challenging roles that can eventually lead you to work in these areas.”

Balakrishnan also recommends that students be strategic in choosing volunteer opportunities. “Consider your career goals and where there is a gap in your skills or experience,” she says. “Choose a volunteer position that will hone the specific skills that are currently missing from your resumé and get you closer to your goals.”

3. Develop experiences that you can draw upon at your next job interview.
“While volunteering, you’ll have plenty of experiences that can eventually become meaningful stories to tell in your next interview,” explains Balakrishnan. “If you’re involved in something you’re passionate about, that will shine through when you talk about it, which is something any interviewer appreciates.”

4. Take advantage of the valuable networking opportunities.
“Volunteering can be a valuable networking opportunity,” says Balakrishnan. “By getting to know other people who work and volunteer in the organization, you are building connections with individuals who share the same interests as you, who you may collaborate with throughout your career.”

“In a longer term volunteer position, where you get the chance to build a relationship with your supervisor, you might even snag a reference. Your volunteer supervisor can answer your potential employer’s questions about all the fabulous skills you gained in your volunteer position.”

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With this advice in mind, here are some of the upcoming volunteer opportunities on campus for students:

29^th Annual Traditional Graduation Pow Wow
This important celebration honours the achievements of Indigenous students at the University of Manitoba.

Dates: May 5
Application deadline: April 6

Science Rendezvous
Science Rendezvous is a festival that celebrates the mash up of art, science and engineering. This event focuses on hands-on activities that showcase areas of science, technology, engineering and math – with an artsy twist.

Dates: May 3 or 4 – school day events, May 12 event on campus
Application deadline: April 15

UMQueer

UMQueer is a group of faculty, staff and students working together to celebrate and advocate for LGBT2SQ+ peoples and their allies at the University of Manitoba. UMQueer is currently recruiting new committee members.

Dates: Pride Winnipeg Festival May 25 – June 3; meetings approximately once a month;
Application deadline: Ongoing

Head Start
Introduce future students and their families to campus.

Date: June 2
Application deadline: May 27

New Student Orientation
Volunteers will work with incoming students, accompanying them to orientation events and activities and introducing them to the University of Manitoba student experience.

Dates: September 4
Application deadline: May 31

To be connected with more volunteer opportunities, sign up for the University of Manitoba Volunteer Program.

For more information on connecting your academics to the world of work, visit Career Services.