STRENGTHENING CANADIAN SCIENCE ENGAGEMENT THROUGH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING
The Falling Walls Engage Hub Canada launched in November 2020 with two extraordinary days of events focused on exploring the roles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in Science Engagement. Since that time, the Hub Canada found a home at McGill University, one of the world’s top research-intensive institutions of higher education, in Montreal, Quebec.
Brett Hooton is serving as the inaugural Hub Manager. The Falling Walls Engage team and the Hub Managers meet regularly to plan activities and events that will strengthen links between their regional networks and the international community of Science Engagers.
Promoting inclusion and increasing the diversity of voices in the field of Science Engagement and communications remains the Hub Canada’s central priority. In addition, the team has a long-term goal of becoming a valuable resource – through networking, training, and relationship-building – for Canadians changing their communities through their innovative outreach initiatives in support of science and science-based policymaking.
Image credit (above): Photo by Jackie Hutchinson on Unsplash.
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION AND PLANETARY HEALTH
Falling Walls Engage Hub Canada and the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada (SWCC) have teamed up to offer an engaging one-day event on Monday, May 2, at McGill University entitled ‘Symposium for Science Engagement: Communicating the Urgency of Planetary Health’ in the vibrant city of Montreal, Quebec.
Science and environment writers and outreach professionals were invited for a day of workshops, networking, and presentations devoted to discussing the challenges we face in supporting planetary health, and the potential for change through science engagement.
Sessions featured leading Canadian and international scientists, including Cynthia Umuhire, Space Science Analyst with the Rwanda Space Agency, Oscar Contreras-Villarroel, Director of External Relations for the Giant Magellan Telescope, Anthony Morgan, 2020 Engage Finalist of Science Everywhere, Ursula Eicker, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Communities and Cities, among others.
Participants had the opportunity to engage in an interactive experience with Milton Riaño, McGill’s first Climate Change Artist in Residence. The Hub event was held back-to-back to McGill Space Conference on 3-4 May 2022.