Last month, UHN STEM Pathways partnered with Sinai Health to host Science Rendezvous, a free family science festival at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital.
The event welcomed over 200 youth and families for an afternoon filled with engaging STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities. There were a variety of booths, including activities from each of UHN’s six research institutes.
Participants at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre’s booth viewed stained microscope slides, including those containing their own cheek cells, offering a glimpse into the microscopic world. Krembil’s booth featured brain hats made of coloured paper and pipe cleaner neurons, combining art with neuroscience education. Using candy, children at KITE’s booth constructed models of the human spine. At Toronto General Hospital Research Institute’s booth, kids made star necklaces using microcentrifuge tubes—small tubes used for experiments—and coloured in drawings of the lungs while learning about zebrafish in medical research. For McEwen’s activity, children made paper plate cell models and TIER’s booth provided insights into foot care and the work of chiropodists—health care professionals that treat foot conditions.
The event was a resounding success, providing entertainment and learning opportunities for all attendees. Through Science Rendezvous, UHN STEM Pathways and Sinai Health not only showcased the excitement of STEM but also demonstrated the importance of making science accessible and enjoyable for all ages.
UHN STEM Pathways is a Toronto-based outreach program that aims to inspire and educate students from kindergarten to grade 12 by offering interactive tours, scientist panels, hands-on workshops, and classroom visits. For more information on their current offerings, click here or contact stempathways@uhn.ca.