University of Guelph-Humber

On May 13, the University of Guelph-Humber will open its campus to the public for the Science Rendezvous, a free celebration of science for guests of all ages.

Celebrating its 10^th year, the annual festival will be coming to UofGH for the first time, with fun activities and attractions aimed at adults and children alike based in anatomy, neuroscience, health and fitness, memory, and forensic science.

“This public engagement event is a really neat way of allowing our students to not only showcase the science that happens in our building, but also to allow each student to really experience what it’s like communicating what they’ve learned,” said Kinesiology Acting Program Head Dr. Agnes Coutinho.

“It allows us to engage the community and share with them the knowledge that we have at UofGH.”

As part of the the Your Body: Inside Out program, Science Rendezvous attendees can see up-close anatomical models of muscles, fat, the brain, heart and the lungs, while younger guests can see how lungs work with inflatable balloons.

The Science of Health & Fitness exhibition asks: What does it mean to be fit? Aspiring police officers or law-enforcement professionals can sample two stations that mimic the fitness beep test. In another blood-pumping educational activity, guests will have their blood pressure measured before and after a fitness test – and then they’ll be asked to complete the same task with a 20-pound bodysuit on. That exercise illustrates how weight gain can affect movement.

Finally, the Science of the Mind & Body Connection exhibit features lessons from several of the University of Guelph-Humber’s programs. Students interested in Psychology will enjoy learning more about face recognition. Guests will also want to explore the Justice Studies program’s popular CSI room, where guests will be asked to examine a crime scene, learn about finger prints and solve a crime!

Early Childhood Studies students have volunteered enthusiastically to help create a great experience for the younger budding scientists in the bunch, who will enjoy puzzles, colouring books, finger-print art and Play-Doh, which can be used to recreate the anatomical models.

The event was made possible with help from enthusiastic UofGH student volunteers, with students from all programs jumping at the opportunity to help with the event.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our students as a group to bond and bring a great experience to the public,” Dr. Coutinho said.