Ontario Science Centre fosters curiosity, creativity and critical thinking with Power of Ideas exhibition

Leisure and Lifestyle
It’s electrifying! The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Maurice Bitran, CEO and Chief Science Officer, Ontario Science Centre, delve into the fascinating field of theoretical physics – from the cosmic speed limit to the black holes – at the Power of Ideas exhibition. Co-created by the Science Centre and the Perimeter Institute, this immersive travelling exhibition is making its way across the country, stopping at the Science Centre until August 31, 2017. (CNW Group/Ontario Science Centre)

TORONTOAug. 18, 2017 /CNW/ – Every great innovation starts with an idea. Explore the incredible ability of the human mind to question, create and innovate when the Power of Ideas exhibition visits the Ontario Science Centre from August 18 – 31, 2017. Co-created by the Science Centre and the Perimeter Institute, this immersive travelling exhibition fosters curiosity, creativity and critical thinking as it makes its way across Canada, stopping in every province and territory, in honour of the sesquicentennial.

“When the Perimeter Institute approached us with the idea of building a travelling exhibition that would demonstrate interactively the workings and value of theoretical physics to the general public, we jumped at the opportunity,” said Maurice Bitran, Ph.D., CEO and Chief Science Officer of the Ontario Science Centre. “The public engagement that the Power of Ideas has inspired in its tour across the country has been remarkable, and we are proud to welcome it home.”

The Power of Ideas exhibition is a joint effort, conceived by the Perimeter Institute and designed, developed and fabricated by the Science Centre. Given the Ontario Science Centre’s international reputation for producing impactful, interactive and informative exhibitions, the Perimeter Institute engaged the Science Centre to create an experience that brings the wonder of science to Canadians from coast to coast.

“The Power of Ideas exhibition engages Canadians of all ages in truly meaningful and enriching experiences that spark new ideas and build capacity for future innovation,” said Greg Dick, Director of Educational Outreach, Perimeter Institute. “It’s a fun experience, but with a powerful mission – to fuel the curiosity and innovative mindset that gives young Canadians the tools they need to build a brighter future for our country – and the world.”

From the cosmic speed limit to the mysteries of dark matter to black holes, the Power of Ideasexhibition explores changing ideas about our universe. To better understand how scientists investigate the natural world, visitors are invited to take a hands-on approach to learning the scientific method.  Visitors can delve into the fascinating field of physics by cranking up the power of the Large Hadron Collider to smash protons; standing at the edge of a black hole and watch their legs turn to spaghetti; and travelling from the vastness of the universe all the way down to the subatomic scale.

The Power of Ideas exhibition runs at the Science Centre from August 18 to 31 and is included with general admission. For more information about the exhibition and to purchase tickets, please visit OntarioScienceCentre.ca.

The exhibition is travelling to 60 communities across the country as part of Innovation150, a Canada 150 Signature Project that includes two exhibitions, festivals, maker workshops, online experiences and more. Innovation150 is a partnership between Perimeter Institute, Actua, the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, the Canadian Association of Science Centres, and the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation. ThePower of Ideas Tour is supported by the Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, Shaw, The Cowan Foundation, Toyota Foundation and Superior Lodging.

The Ontario Science Centre, a Centennial project, has welcomed more than 51 million visitors since it opened in 1969, implementing an interactive approach now adopted by science centres around the world. Today, the Science Centre is an international leader in free-choice science learning and a key contributor to Ontario’s education and innovation ecosystems, offering lifelong learning through hands-on, engaging experiences. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. As a publicly assisted organization, the Science Centre relies on generous individuals, corporations and foundations who share a commitment to science and education for additional operating support. For more information about the Ontario Science Centre, please visit OntarioScienceCentre.ca.

Perimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement.

SOURCE Ontario Science Centre

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