Join colleagues from BC's science outreach community in a day of interactive discussions, hands-on workshops and networking opportunities!
Date: March 9, 2020
Time: 8am–5:30pm
Location: Science World at TELUS World of Science
Registration is now open!
The 7th annual BC Science Outreach Workshop will be held at Science World at TELUS World of Science. This popular professional development event will focus on innovative experiences, pertinent discussions and networking opportunities.
This year, we will be delving into the ways that STEAM can empower community change. Through a selection of community led workshops, we will be exploring aspects of climate change, design thinking and STEAM communication.
Schedule of Events
| 8:00am | Registration and Coffee |
| 8:45am | Opening Keynote |
| 9:45am | Networking Coffee Break |
| 10:00am | Community Led Workshops |
| 11:05pm | Community Led Workshops |
| 12:05pm | Lunch and Networking |
| 1:45pm | Explore Science World's feature exhibition: Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO® Bricks |
| 2:15pm | Report on BC’s STEAM Ecosystem Environmental Scan |
| 3:30pm | Networking Reception |
| 4:30pm | Event Ends |
Workshops
Keynote
Communities for Change
All of our communities are vulnerable to climate change. Many of us have been dealing with climate variability for decades and have acquired a wealth of knowledge on how communities can adapt. Community-based adaptation to climate change focuses on empowering communities to take action by using their own knowledge and decision-making processes. Join us for this panel discussion featuring individuals who are empowering their communities to prepare for climate change.
10am Workshops
Developing Ocean Sense
Ocean Networks Canada and Indigenous knowledge holders have worked collaboratively to create a program called Ocean Sense. By sharing multiple ways of knowing, the Ocean Sense program strives to develop ocean literacy through the creation of resources for educators, youth and the community. Share their journey of collaboration as they work with communities, educators and students to discover the ocean.
Practical Magic: Science Communication in Your Organization
Take a crash course in thinking on your feet. Whether online, through media, or in-person, your conversations make your science outreach memorable. And often, your science communication skills will be tested without much time to prepare. This hands-on, interactive session will get you practising engaging messaging for fictional science outreach scenarios. We will divide into several streams—traditional media, social media and in-person encounters. You’ll come away with practical skills!
Design Thinking in Science Communication
Are Design Thinking and the Scientific Method complete opposites or a match made in heaven for the good of the earth? Using a case study that resulted in historic funding and the lab’s first graphic design award, TRIUMF’s senior graphic designer Diana will lead a hands-on exploration of these two methodologies. Science communicators: be ready to face a challenge that can only be solved using both frameworks!
11am Workshops
Collaborative and Immersive Scientific Story Telling Through VR Experiences
Simon Fraser University
Experience storytelling using virtual reality (VR). Learn how VR is used as an educational tool in the classroom. Experience an example of a scientific story created through a collaboration between researchers and educators. Watch a demonstration of how a digital story is developed through collaborative story making and storytelling through the immersive features of virtual reality.
Creating Scicomm: The Art of Science Communication
A growing divide in public and scientific opinion on controversial science policy issues like artificial intelligence, vaccinations and climate change, has created pressure to improve how we communicate science. In this interactive workshop, we offer a hands-on approach to achieving that goal—through art! Join us to collaborate, innovate and leverage your originality to communicate science in a colourful new way.
Dive into Collective Problem Solving with Design Thinking
When it comes to group problem solving and collaborative work between organizations, it’s important to include multiple perspectives in the process. When executed mindfully, this will strengthen your programs and groups. Using threats to our oceans as an example, this hands-on workshop will teach you the skills to collectively solve problems through a process rooted in design thinking.
Lunchtime Networking Activity
Creating Scicomm: The Art of Science Communication
A growing divide in public and scientific opinion on controversial science policy issues like artificial intelligence, vaccinations and climate change, has created pressure to improve how we communicate science. In this interactive workshop, we offer a hands-on approach to achieving that goal—through art! Join us to collaborate, innovate and leverage your originality to communicate science in a colourful new way.
Afternoon Session
The Evolving State of STEAM Learning in BC
In nature, symbiotic organisms rely on one another in order to thrive. Symbiosis, our STEAM Learning Ecosystem in BC, does exactly that by connecting like-minded individuals and organizations, and finding common goals for the benefit and thrivability of all learners across the province. Learn about the roots of Symbiosis and how its regional hubs are working to make those connections happen. We will share the findings from a recent province-wide environmental scan, with a focus on the need for an ecosystem approach with regional hubs, and offer recommendations for providing better support to all STEAM educators in BC for years to come.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Maia Hoeberechts
Dr. Maia Hoeberechts is the Associate Director of Learning and Community Engagement at Ocean Networks Canada. She and her team lead Ocean Networks Canada’s organizational commitment to meaningful, ongoing partnerships with Indigenous communities and develop formal and informal ocean learning opportunities for youth and adults. Maia holds a PhD in Computer Science and a BSc in Philosophy and Computer Science from Western University. In her spare time, she enjoys scuba diving, travel, reading, gardening, and any activity which allows her to spend time outside and on the water.
Roseanna Gamlen-Greene
Roseanna Gamlen-Greene is a PhD Candidate at UBC and National Geographic Explorer and researches conservation biology of amphibians on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. Her research involves tromping around in beautiful bogs, sea kayaking, canoeing and boating to remote and wild locations. Alongside her PhD, she is working with local communities on Haida Gwaii and in Squamish to help teach them how to monitor and conserve the western toad. This work is as important to her as her PhD (if not more, but don't tell the powers that be). She is honoured to be able to do this work on the unceded territories of the Haida, Squamish, Musqueam and Coast Salish Nations.
Christine Germano
Christine Germano is the founder and director of the Constant Arts Society and the Artistic Director of the Portraits of Resilience project coordinated by Many Strong Voices / GRID Arendal. Germano has collaborated with Indigenous communities since 2000 but is best known for her photojournalism projects that focuses on the voices and images of young people whose futures are influenced by social and environmental issues. The project encourages youth to use photography and writing as a means to express themselves and their community, build self-confidence and empower themselves to be global citizens and mentors.
The international photojournalism project titled Portraits of Resilience has allowed her to work with indigenous youth to illustrate the personal and ethical effects of climate change on their communities. Since its creation in 2008, the project has occurred in 12 countries (29 communities) and was launched at the National Museum of Denmark during the COP 15 in 2009 and has continued to exhibit internationally with a permanent exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre. Christine is also a recipient of the John Hobday Awards in Arts Management through the Canada Council of the Arts. In May 2015 Germano was honoured with an Alumni Award from the OCAD University. In the summer of 2018 Christine completed a Masters of Education, Arts for Social Change degree at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.
