Students to show science in action
'Everything is intended to be very hands-on'
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, May 5, 2016
INUVIK
Community members will get to see all the science and technology in town in action this weekend.
Members of the robotics club Lane Voudrach, left, Lexis McDonald and Michael Ha print a missing part for a machine on the 3-D printer in preparation for the Science Rendezvous May 7. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
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"The goal of this is to expose youth, parents, elders, everyone, to the science going on in the community and the jobs people do with it," said Science Rendezvous organizer Matthew Dares. "Everything is intended to be very hands-on. You will get to touch and see everything there, like a reverse science fair."
Science Rendezvous, taking place May 7 at East Three School, was designed to help communities interact with the science all round them and is a fixture at several institutions in southern Canada.
The Aurora Research Institute and the Inuvik Robotics Club have once again partnered to bring it to life.
Last year, Dares said more than 200 people turned out to see exhibitors like the NWT Power Corp., Gwich'in Tribal Council, and even the RCMP, who demonstrated the science involved in fingerprinting, among other things.
This year, Dares said there will be between 20 and 25 exhibitors, including a team from mental health and addictions who will be talking about the chemistry of emotions and stress.
"It's not only geared towards kids," said Dares. "It's really for the whole family, the whole community."
In addition to employers in town, the robotics club will also be showing off some of its gear. Dares said the 3-D printer and drones have been hits in the past, but this year he is looking to showcase the new 3-D carvers the club has recently acquired.
"It feels different," said Lane Voudrach, a student and robotics club member who ran the robot maze at last year's event and was tasked with explaining some of the work behind it to attendees. "I'm not used to teaching and imparting knowledge."
Last year, Dares said people not only came out but stayed for quite a while to take in all the exhibits and activities. He said he hopes to see similar results this year and is looking forward to seeing the excitement in people's faces.
"It's just a great opportunity to expose people to science," he said. "We're just trying to repeat that same model."
