News

ZIT’s Fun, enGROSSing and S’NOT to be Missed!

Posted: Jan. 18, 2012

Grossology opens this weekend at the Discovery Centre

Halifax, NS, January 18, 2012  Boogers, snots, body odour and other “impolite” bodily functions are the topics of Discovery Centre’s newest exhibit – Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. The Discovery Centre, and presenting sponsor Pharmachoice, is hosting this colourful, hands-on exhibit that uses humour to teach kids about health, the body and biology.

“We expect Grossology to be one of the most entertaining exhibits we’ve had at the Discovery Centre in many years,” said Dov Bercovici, CEO and President of Discovery Centre. “Based on the wildly popular children’s book by Sylvia Branzei, this exhibit addresses all the questions about the body that children want answers to but have been told they are not polite to ask.”

Grossology uses animatronics along with humour and hands-on elements to learn about the human body. It features 10 interactive stations in three main sections – The Nose, The Gut and Other Stuff – designed to teach visitors the good, the bad and the downright ugly about runny noses, vomiting, bad breath, belching and much more. This science-in-disguise exhibit explores all things sticky, stinky and oozy.

“As community pharmacies, PharmaChoice is focused on providing health advice for life and regardless of their age, assisting our patients to take care of their bodies.  This is the perfect fit for us,” said Dwayne Boudreau, Director of Marketing for PharmaChoice. “We’re thrilled to be both supporting this exhibit and the Discovery Centre, as we believe in their mandate to teach young people about science and health.”

The exhibit opens to the public today and will be on display at Discovery Centre until May 2012.

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About Discovery Centre:

Discovery Centre, a 25-year-old non-profit charitable organization, stimulates interest, enjoyment and understanding of science and technology through innovative, hands-on experiences for visitors.

Media Contact:

Melissa MacInnis, (T) 902-492-4422 x 232   (E) mmacinnis@discoverycentre.ns.ca

Discovery Centre Sets Stage for Reel Science Film Competition

Posted: Jan. 17, 2012

Discovery Centre Sets the Stage for Reel Science Film Competition

Halifax, Nova Scotia – January 17, 2012 – For 12 years, the Discovery Centre has brought the world of film and discovery to Grade five students in Nova Scotia through its prestigious Grade Five Science Film Competition. This year, film will play an even bigger starring role with Discovery Centre’s Reel Science Film Competition, presented by Saint Mary’s University. The event celebrates the best science-based, student-produced movies from across Nova Scotia.

The competition is now open to grade four to six classes. Films must be between three and five minutes in length and must explore science curriculum topics. The top three finalists, as selected by our judging panel, will be invited to Discovery Centre’s film showdown on Monday, March 19, 2012 inside the Discovery Centre’s Theatre. The top three films will win cash prizes and the winning film will be featured at the ViewFinders Film Festival.

“We are thrilled to expand our science film competition,” said Dov Bercovici, CEO and President of Discovery Centre. “Continuing our partnership with Saint Mary’s University and collaborating with ViewFinders Film Festival, is allowing even more students to discover their creativity and passion for science and technology.”

Students from across the province are invited to participate in this unique project. With limited guidance from teachers, students research, develop and produce a short film on a science topic of their choice. The film style – whether it’s drama, documentary or comedy – script, scenery, costumes, and, most importantly, the scientific explanation is student driven.

Teachers and are invited to visit the Teacher Zone of the Discovery Centre’s website – thediscoverycentre.ca – for tips, information and registration forms.

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Discovery Centre, a non-profit charitable organization, has been stimulating interest, enjoyment and understanding of science and technology through innovative, exciting, hands-on experiences for visitors for over 25 years.  For more information, visit www.thediscoverycentre.ca.

Contact:

Melissa MacInnis, (P) 492-4422 x 232, (E) mmacinnis@discoverycentre.ns.ca

Let’s Go! Animals in Motion – A New “Moving” Exhibit

Posted: Jan. 11, 2012

Halifax, NS, January 11, 2012 – Are you ready to run, jump, crawl, climb and even “swim” or “fly” like animals do? Visitors can explore this new exhibit teeming with life.  A participatory exhibition for the whole family, LET’S GO! Animals in Motion, supported by Premiere Van Lines, enables visitors to enhance their knowledge of animal biodiversity and to admire a number of naturalized animals.

Seven animal instructors – fish, snake, lizard, snail, squirrel, duck and bat – teach visitors how to move like they do! This hands-on exhibit is set up in four zones – Water, Ground, Between Ground and Sky and Air – and is a fun learning experience for the whole family. Children have the opportunity to get in the skin of various animals by trying to swim like fish, fly like birds and climb like squirrels.

“The locomotion feats of animals and the strategies they have developed to survive are amazing,” said Dov Bercovici, CEO & President of the Discovery Centre. “As children explore LET’S GO! Animals in Motion, they will discover these various methods of locomotion and gain much better insight into the animal kingdom.”

The exhibition was produced by the Sherbrooke Museum of Nature and Science. This project was made possible by the generous contribution of Heritage Canada – Museums Assistance Program and Presenting Sponsor – Premiere Van Lines

“As a long-timer supporter of the Discovery Centre, we are happy to help the Centre bring quality, interactive educational opportunities to the children of Nova Scotia,” said Cory Sanford, Partner and Vice President Commercial Division of Premiere Van Lines. “We hope kids of all ages will have a lot of fun with this exhibit and take ‘The Art of Moving’ to a whole new level!”

The public is invited to explore this new exhibit in the Exxon Mobil Gallery at the Discovery Centre from January 16 to May 2012.

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About Discovery Centre:

Discovery Centre, a 25-year-old non-profit charitable organization, stimulates interest, enjoyment and understanding of science and technology through innovative, hands-on experiences for visitors

Media Contact:

Melissa MacInnis, Marketing and Business Development Coordinator                           902.492.4422 x 232, mmacinnis@discoverycentre.ns.ca

The Winners Are…

Posted: Dec. 1, 2011

Halifax, Nova Scotia – Nov. 18, 2011 – Last night a capacity crowd of more than 500 gathered at The Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel to celebrate the 9th Annual Discovery Awards for Science and Technology, which recognizes the outstanding achievements by Nova Scotians in the fields of science and technology.

Dr. Donald Hebb (posthumous) and Dr. W. Ford Doolittle were this year’s Nova Scotia Science Hall of Fame inductees. Dr. Donald Hebb (1904-1985) has been described as the father of neuropsychology given his influential work understanding the development of neurons. The Hebbian theory that describes how neurons connect themselves through repeated firing is named after him. Dr. W. Ford Doolittle is one of the world’s premier evolutionary biologists. His pioneering DNA studies with the evolutionary ancient archaebacteria led to a fundamental re-evaluation of the so called “tree of life” as proposed by Darwin.

This year’s Youth Award recognized three outstanding individuals. Brandon Fillmore, a Grade 10 student at Bible Hill Junior High, was recognized for his project “L.B.S., a turn for the better”, which documented the development of the Lateral Balance System (L.B.S.) and its potential benefits for vehicle handling and safety. Megan Smith and Charlotte Donaldson, both students at Hants East Rural High School in Elmsdale, created a template board with an improved design for children requiring spinal rescues in aquatic situations.
Winners were announced in the following categories:
Professional of Distinction – Dr. Kenneth Lee is the Executive Director, Centre for Offshore Oil and Gas and Energy Research. Dr. Lee is an expert in techniques for cleaning up oil spills and was instrumental in the remediation of the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Innovation– Elekta Atlantic is an initiative of the National Research Council (NRC), the IWK Health Centre and government and industry partners of Nova Scotia, formed under the direction of Dr. Ryan D’Arcy of the NRC-IBD (Atlantic). The company specializes in innovations and clinical solutions for the treatment of cancer and brain disorders.
Emerging Professional – Dr. Jill Chorney is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anaesthesiology and Psychology at Dalhousie University, and is a psychologist at the IWK Health Centre Paediatric Complex Chronic Pain Service. Her research and clinical practice in pain management is advancing the hospital and at-home care of children with chronic pain.
Science Champion– Dr. Daniel Silver is a computer scientist who has been a faculty member at Dalhousie University and then Acadia University. His research has focused on the use of artificial intelligence to analyze data and to devise computer systems that adapt to changes.
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Media Contact: Melissa MacInnis (P): 492-4422 x 232; (E): mmacinnis@discoverycentre.ns.ca

Water and Our World Wins Best Outreach Program at The CASCADE 2011 National Awards

Posted: Sep. 25, 2011

Halifax, N.S. – June 13, 2011– Discovery Centre’s Water and Our World educational outreach program, made possible through the RBC Blue Water Project, was recognized nationally with a 2011 CASCADE Award for Best Outreach Program by the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC). The awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in science and technology, were handed out at the 9th Annual Awards Gala in Sudbury, Ontario on Saturday.

“This program, and the award, would not have been possible without the significant support from RBC and the RBC Blue Water Project,” said Dov Bercovici, President and CEO of the Discovery Centre. “As a result of their outstanding support, we have now educated 2,700 junior high students across Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland about water conservation and procurement, ensuring our next generation of water stewards,” added Bercovici.

Water and Our World provided junior high students in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island with a solid introduction to water conservation and water procurement locally and globally. The hour-long workshop consisted of four hands-on activities based on curriculum outcomes for grades seven through nine. In total, 85 workshops were delivered during the school year to 25 junior high schools.

“RBC and the RBC Blue Water Foundation are thrilled with this national recognition,” said Lori Smith, Manager of Public Affairs, Atlantic. “Educating our youth about the challenges we face with our local and national water supply was the goal of this program, and to see its successful implementation and corresponding recognition is extremely rewarding.”

About RBC RBC is recognized among the world’s financial, social and environmental leaders and is included on the Dow Jones World and North American Sustainability Indices, the Jantzi Social Index, the FTSE4Good Index and the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations ranking. RBC is among 67 companies and one of only 18 financial institutions worldwide named to the 2008 Global Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index. RBC contributed $99 million to community causes worldwide in 2008, through donations of more than $51.5 million, and an additional $47.5 million in sponsorship of community events.

About Discovery Centre Discovery Centre, a non-profit charitable organization, is celebrating 25 years of stimulating interest, enjoyment and understanding of science and technology through innovative, exciting, hands-on experiences for visitors. For more information, visit www.thediscoverycentre.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Melissa MacInnis Business Development Coordinator Discovery Centre Phone: 492-4422 x 232 E-mail: mmacinnis@discoverycentre.ns.ca

Lori Smith Manager of Public Affairs, Atlantic RBC Phone: 421-8121 E-mail: lori.smith@rbc.com

Small is the new BIG! Too Small to See set to open at the Discovery Centre

Posted: Sep. 23, 2011

May 19, 2011 – Halifax, NS – Too Small to See, Discovery Centre’s newest exhibit, is proving that small is the new BIG! This hands-on exhibit, presented by Dalhousie University, explores the world of nanotechnology and showcases how scientists see and make things that are too small to see.

“Nanotechnology is fascinating and it’s continually changing our lives,” said Dov Bercovici, CEO and President of Discovery Centre. “Cameras no bigger than a grain of salt are being integrated into the health field to view all the nooks and crannies inside the body while consumer electronics, like the Apple iPod, are increasing their data storage without increasing the size of the device. It’s truly amazing.”

The exhibit will help visitors view the world at an atomic scale and better understand just how small a nanometer – one billionth of a meter – really is. To understand this scale, visitors can manipulate “atoms” on a vibrating table, climb on carbon nanotubes, interact with a vibrating crystal and walk through an infinite crystal tunnel. They can even pick up and move atoms using a scaled-up version of the tool that was first employed by scientists at IBM to move atoms.

“A partnership between Dalhousie and the Discovery Centre is a natural fit,” said Dr. Chris Moore, Dean of Science, Dalhousie University. “We’re excited about doing science and the promotion of scientific research at Dalhousie.”

Too Small to See runs from May 21, 2011 to January 8, 2012 inside the Main and Exxon Mobil Galleries of the Discovery Centre.

About Dalhousie University:

Dalhousie University, situated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a world-renowned educational institution with a student population of over 16,000. Currently, Dalhousie University has 11 faculties that offer 3,700 courses in 180 areas of study. Since 1818 when the university was established, Dalhousie has been integral in supporting a vibrant and diverse community.

About Discovery Centre:

Discovery Centre, a 25-year-old non-profit, charitable organization, stimulates interest, enjoyment and understanding of science and technology through innovative, hands-on experiences for visitors.

Media Contact:

Melissa MacInnis Coordinator of Business Development (P): 902-492-4422 x 232; (E): mmacinnis@discoverycentre.ns.ca

Science is everywhere with sci on the fly!

Posted: Sep. 20, 2011

July 21, 2011 – Halifax, NS Thanks to a unique collaboration with Research In Motion (RIM), Discovery Centre is pleased to launch its newest outreach program, Sci on the Fly, this Saturday at the Yarmouth 250 celebrations.

This new program will bring the Centre’s unique, interactive and entertaining brand of science demonstrations and programming to events and communities across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island all year-long.

“The popularity of our Science on the Road and our other community outreach activities has led to the creation of Sci on the Fly, which will allow us to reach more individuals, families and communities across the region,” said Dov Bercovici, President and CEO of the Discovery Centre. “Thanks to the support of RIM, science will be more accessible and exciting as a result of this program and partnership.”

Featuring some of the Discovery Centre’s most popular activities, Sci on the Fly will amaze audiences of all ages with educational and entertaining experiments like Slimy Science, Bubble Trouble and Rocket Science. These demonstrations will also show young people that science can be found all around them.

To find out where Sci on the Fly will be this summer, check out @SciOnTheFly on Twitter or visit the Discovery Centre’s website for program updates. The Sci on the Fly team will use BlackBerry® PlayBook to aid in the learning experience by integrating it into the program.

About Discovery Centre:

Discovery Centre, a 25-year-old non-profit charitable organization, stimulates interest, enjoyment and understanding of science and technology through innovative, hands-on experiences for visitors

Media Contact:

Melissa MacInnis, (T) 902-492-4422 x 232 (E) mmacinnis@discoverycentre.ns.ca