Science North

Program
Session Descriptions
Travel to Sudbury
How to Register
Accompanying Guest Program
Accommodations

Following the Science Centre World Congress sessions and events in Toronto, delegates are invited to continue the conference at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario - a four and a half hour drive north of Toronto. Delegates will board a luxury highway coach hosted by a guide who will outline the geological features of Northern Ontario during planned stops along the way.

Preliminary Science North Program

*  Bus seating is determined in order of request. Delegates may be contacted to confirm their seat on the next available bus if seating on their requested bus is no longer available.

Science World Congress Sessions at Science North

Assessing the Visitor Learning Experience

Engaging visitors in a learning experience is a fundamental objective for science centres.  Assessing the effectiveness of the activities, programs and exhibits for facilitating visitor learning requires research on the process and evidence of learning.   

The Visitor-Based Framework and the Visitor Engagement Model are tools that can be used by science centre staff to assess learning in their own setting.  Involving science centre staff in the research process establishes a research culture in which staff are equipped and encouraged to use data, not just intuition in making decisions about the design of visitor experiences. Chantal Barriault, Co-Director of the Science Communication Program at Science North/ Laurentian University has done groundbreaking work on the framework and model; tools which will be used with participants in this session.

Connecting with the Community
(Session at Dynamic Earth)

Science North is a large facility in a relatively small city. Its success depends very much on its relationship with industry partners. These, in turn, derive great benefit from the science centre. From exhibit development to educational programs, partnerships with local businesses have proven very beneficial to many science centres.

This panel session will explore initiatives from science centres around the world. Learn about the challenges, occasional missteps, successes and payoffs of working with industry stakeholders to develop and deliver exhibits and programs.

Customer Service and Interpretive Excellence

Science North Bluecoats play an essential role in the centres overall approach to science and customer service. This session will explore some of the training and developmental tools employed to empower staff and keep the visitor number one in everyone’s mind. You’ll learn about the Bluecoat Standards of Excellence and the innovative Badge Program that encourages staff to take control of their own training. You’ll see the scientific credibility that is built around Staff Scientists at Science North who lead the Bluecoats in their training and how it adds a unique component.

Dynamic Earth – Surface and Underground Tours

This half-day tour at Dynamic Earth, Science North’s interactive earth science centre will take you on an unforgettable journey into the depths of the Earth. You will board a glass elevator and descend into an impressive rock chasm while viewing a state-of-the-art multimedia show. Once underground, you will follow the tunnels and witness the mining of mineral resources and the dramatic evolution of mining techniques over the last century.

Back on the surface, you will explore two exhibit galleries, uncover evidence of the massive meteorite impact that created the Sudbury Basin nearly two billion years ago, and experience the immersive theatre, Nickel City Stories, to learn more about the events that shaped Sudbury’s 120-year history.

Friday Lunch Guest Speaker: SNOLAB

Located at the 6800 level of Vale Inco’s Creighton nickel mine, the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) is a facility designed to detect neutrinos produced by fusion reactions in the sun and resolve what has become known in Physics as the "Solar Neutrino Problem." Recently, a new project has been assigned to the facility emphasizing on astrophysics with specific research in low energy solar neutrino’s, neutrinoless double beta decay, cosmic dark matter searches and supernova neutrino searches. The project was made possible through the support of the Canadian, United States, and British governments as well as the participation of numerous academic institutions throughout these three countries.

A representative of SNOLAB will deliver a dynamic presentation outlining the relationship between Science North and a world-class science research facility such as SNOLAB. The presentation will focus on how science centres can act as interpretive centres for facilities that are not open to the public and share up-to-date scientific breakthroughs with its visitors

Imax Film: Mysteries of the Great Lakes

It takes a drop of water nearly 400 years to travel from the headwaters of Lake Superior to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. Along the way, the water passes by towering cliffs dotted with early Native American pictographs, caribou and moose grazing on the shores, over giant prehistoric sturgeon lurking among thousands of shipwrecks and past nearly 30 million people who live along the more than 3,000 miles of coastline. It is a dramatic journey through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Now, through the power of IMAX, you can witness the Mysteries of the Great Lakes…

Explore the beauty of these “inland seas”, and discover the dramatic story of human degradation – and redemption. Over the past hundred years, the Great Lakes have experienced some of the worst environmental atrocities in North America, but are now the subject of one of the most extensive cleanup projects in history. Now, in the age of redemption, international efforts have resulted in bird and fish species rebounding from the brink of destruction to sustainable populations once again.

Immersive Visitor Experiences

Object theatres and multimedia shows are a form of educational experience Science North has used extensively to explore complex subjects.  Through such experiences, topics such as neutrinos and climate change have been made understandable to the visitor.

This session will share the creative and technical challenges that face major immersive theatre project. The award-winning Climate Change Show will be incorporated into the session.

Science Communication Programs

Communicating science requires a combination of practical skills, understanding of theory, and knowledge of science. Bringing the experience of science centre staff and university faculty into a professionally oriented program has been successful but not frequently implemented. Science North and Laurentian University have offered a one year Graduate Diploma in Science Communication since 2005.

This session will describe the components of the Sudbury program, a rational and structural breakdown of the experience offered to students, and an opportunity to evaluate similar programs. The purpose is to identify what is most important about the content and structure of science communication programs in a way that will enable others to develop programs suited to their own circumstances. Speakers will include Science Communication Program Leaders from other countries and graduates of the Science North/Laurentian University program who will share their point of view on the value of these programs.

Science North Tour: Behind the Scenes and Behind the Thinking

This tour will help you learn about how Science North approaches science exhibits, programs and shows. The tour will introduce key elements Science North uses for the development of successful exhibits and programs. You will meet our Bluecoats to understand our approach to interactive visitor experiences, see the science labs in action, tour the media production suite and learn about the facility’s unique geology and architecture.

Travel to Sudbury

Highway coaches will take delegates to Sudbury departing Toronto at 13:00 on Thursday, June 19. A box lunch will be provided. A Science North host will offer commentary along the route and guide delegates at special stops as they explore the rugged Canadian Shield landscape of Northern Ontario. Duration: approx. 4.5 hours

Buses will depart Sudbury for Toronto on Friday evening with optional later departure on Saturday morning.

How To Register

Use the online Congress registration form to sign up for the Science North program. See Registration Fees for participation rates, inclusions and dates for fee increases.

Accompanying Guest Program

Delegates are invited to register their guests in the Science North Accompanying Guest Program. For the low price of $129 (early rate), guests will receive free admission to Science North and Dynamic Earth, deluxe highway coach transportation to and from Sudbury, shuttle service from congress hotels at designated times, two lunches, an invitation to the Northern Ontario Experience dinner and the dinner in the science centre. To participate, delegates must register their guests and provide payment with their own registration.

Accommodations

Delegates taking part in the Science North program must make their own hotel arrangements in Sudbury. The following Sudbury hotels are offering special conference rates for Congress delegates. Mention the 5th Science Centre World Congress to receive the special rate.

Holiday Inn
1696 Regent Street, Sudbury
Rate: $119 CAD/night
Phone: 1-800-465-4329 (In Canada and the USA) or +1 (705) 522-3000
Reservation Code: “SCI” 2008 SCIENCE CENTRE WORLD CONGRESS
Website: www.hisudbury.ca

The newly renovated Holiday Inn is centrally located with complimentary wireless high speed Internet, business centre, bar and restaurant, pool, sauna and hot tub.

Travelodge Hotel
1401 Paris Street, Sudbury
Rate: $99 CAD/night
Reservation Code: CGSCIE
Phone: 1-800-578-7878 (In Canada and the USA) or +1 705-522-1100
Website: http://www.travelodge.com

The Travelodge offers comfortable guestrooms, each with in-room coffeemaker, hairdryer, iron and board. Complimentary wireless high speed Internet is available, along with indoor pool, hot tub, fitness room and guest laundry. Perkins restaurant is situated off lobby.
www.thetravelodge.com/sudbury09669

Travelway Inn
1200 Paris Street, Sudbury
Rate: $92 CAD (single) or $97 CAD (double) per night
Phone: 1-800-461-4883 (in Canada and the USA) or +1 705-522-1122
Reservation Code: SCIENCE CENTRE WORLD CONGRESS
Website: www.travelwayinnsudbury.com

Travelway Inn Sudbury is centrally located across from Science North and the beautiful Ramsey Lake. Newly renovated and 100% smoke free, it offers over-sized guest rooms equipped with in-room refrigerators, coffee makers, irons and ironing boards, 27” televisions with 5 free movie channels and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Our full service licensed restaurant is located in the lobby.