Jesse Hildebrand has always been interested in science communication. But, the self-proclaimed lifelong nerd never thought heB次元官网网址檇 find himself at the helm of a government-funded, week-long celebration of science in Canada.
Science Literary Week runs Sept. 18 to 24, with 650 events across the country, six of them taking place in Victoria.
Hildebrand, a University of Toronto grad, was the kind of kid whose bookshelves were lined with Carl Sagan on walls decorated with Steve Irwin posters. In 2014, he had an idea for libraries to share their science collections, in an effort to get the public more interested with how things work and why.
B次元官网网址淟ibraries are so wonderful because not only do they have the resources, theyB次元官网网址檝e reframed themselves into the ultimate community hub,B次元官网网址� Hildebrand says on the phone from Toronto, where he develops and applies science programs for Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
WhatB次元官网网址檚 great about Science Literacy Week is that it partners those who wouldnB次元官网网址檛 normally work together, Hildebrand says. At the University of Victoria, the Mearns Centre for Learning will host a panel discussion and wine and cheese Sept. 21, featuring speakers working in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e discussing science in an informal atmosphere with alcohol and it gets people interested,B次元官网网址� Hildebrand says. B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of kids events, but IB次元官网网址檓 really excited when we get adults involved. Adults vote and need to know about climate change.B次元官网网址�
National Learn to Code Day, Sept. 23, will provide an introduction to learning the digital language, a skill Hildebrand says will be critical in B次元官网网址榚very job in the next 20 years.B次元官网网址� Local hosts will deliver the day-long workshop designed for coders of all skill levels, including those whoB次元官网网址檝e never coded before. The event is a partnership with Ladies Learning CodeB次元官网网址檚 Victoria chapter, a non-profit organization teaching technical skills in a hands-on way.
B次元官网网址淚f you look at women in high-level careers as they progress across the sciences, something is going wrong on the pathway there,B次元官网网址� Hildebrand explains. B次元官网网址淲hen I was a student, there were 70 per cent women. But heading into physics, computer science and chemistry, women are the minority and weB次元官网网址檇 like to see that change.B次元官网网址�
At the Royal B.C. Museum, SciComm Night rounds out VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 events for the week. Local innovators in science communication will be on hand including spider scientist Catherine Scott, who will discuss how science concepts must be crafted in order to be impactful.
Hildebrand has long been interested in getting the message across about science B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渢he fact that you can share these things with people and fascinate them about the cosmos and nature,B次元官网网址� he says.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a frantic week, but itB次元官网网址檚 very fun.B次元官网网址�
