World-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking is expected to travel to Waterloo, Ontario in mid-September to commemorate the opening of a new research centre bearing his name.

The Stephen Hawking Centre at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics will celebrate its grand opening September 16-18, but the exact date(s) that Mr. Hawking will attend have yet to be determined.

The Stephen Hawking Centre represents a $29 million expansion on the original Perimeter Institute building which has nearly doubled its size from 65,000 to 120,000 square feet. This space will be used to create facilities for 150 new researchers, who will work with the Institute’s existing 80 researchers to study many aspects of theoretical physics.

The grand opening celebration will include a public tour and talks, although it is not known if Mr. Hawking will give a lecture.

For more information, visit: http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/

Happy Canada Day!

We thought we’d commemorate this special day by highlighting some of the contributions that Canada has made to science.  While there are far too many to mention in one blog post, we’ve made a list of our top five.  Here they are, in no particular order.

1. The Canadarm. Easily one of the country’s most famous technological achievements, the Canadarm made its world debut on November 13, 1981.  It represents a design marvel that helped place Canada on the world map for robotics development.  Its near-flawless performance record and innovative design set a new precedent for space engineering, both in Canada and around the world.  The Canadarm is set to retire this July, after its 90^th space shuttle mission, but it will remain a part of Canada’s history indefinitely.
   
2. Insulin. We can thank two Canadians, Drs. Charles Hebert Best and Frederick Grant Banting, for the discovery of insulin in 1922.  Insulin is a vital hormone that helps to regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism.  Drs. Best and Banting were the first to make this connection, thereby bettering the lives of countless people around the world suffering from diabetes.
   
   
3. The First Practical Telephone. Alexander Graham Bell made the first long distance phone call in 1876 with his “electrical speech machine” (now known as a telephone) and changed the world forever.
   
   
4. Time Zones. In 1879, Sir Sandford Fleming proposed dividing the world into 24 time zones.  Before his introduction of Standard Time, cities around the world set their clocks differently, based on the position of the sun in the sky.  The world adopted Fleming’s time zones in 1885, after the establishment of the Greenwich Mean Time.
   
   
5. The First Incandescent Light bulb. Henry Woodward, then a medical student in Toronto, patented the first incandescent lamp with a light bulb in 1874.  Credited as the “true” inventor of the incandescent light bulb, Woodward sold his patent to Thomas Edison in 1885.

Calling all scientists!

The 50^th annual Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is set to kick off in Toronto May 14-21.  Scientists and science enthusiasts alike are encouraged to visit the Newnham Campus of Seneca College to take in the many workshops, social events and demos that will be featured at the week-long exhibition.

The CWSF is organized and sponsored by Youth Science Canada in partnership with local volunteer committees.

Recognized as the highest-level of science fair competitions in Canada, this year’s CWSF is expected to attract 509 student participants, 179 adult delegates and 500 judges from local colleges, universities and public and private sector labs – making it the largest event is CWSF history.

So come on by and watch the competition heat up as young scientists vie for cash rewards, scholarships and other prizes worth $1 million!

Good luck to all the participants – we hope that everyone involved has a wonderful, discovery-filled week!

Click here to learn more about the CWSF.

We’re calling on Canadian Educators to share their experiences on how technology can be used in the science classroom.  Visit our Facebook page and share your ideas with us and you will be entered into a draw to win an 8 gigabyte iPod Nano – a $160.00 value!

How It Works

1. “Like” us on Facebook.
2. Leave a short comment in our discussion forum about how you are using technology as a science teaching aid.
3. Contest runs from Wednesday, March 30 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 2011.
4. Stay tuned to our Facebook page – we will announce the winner on Monday, March 16, 2011.

Eligibility

1. Entrants must be a Canadian science educator who teaches between grades K-12.
2. In order to qualify, you must “like” us on Facebook and leave a comment on our discussion board.

Rules and Regulations

All decisions of the contest judges are final. Contests are governed by the laws of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein. The sponsors reserve the right to cancel or modify any contest or the contest rules at any time without notice. All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and are not convertible to cash. All prizes are awarded as-is and no warranties or guarantees are implied or expressed, beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty. The odds of winning depend on how many eligible entries are received. Sponsors are not liable for any errors, damage or negligence that may arise in connection with this contest, including technical failures on the part of contest software, website down-time, human error or property damage incurred by any contest entrant.