CORNWALL, Ontario – Science Literacy Week takes place between Sept. 18 through 24, and aims to shed light on the brightest minds in Canadian science. Throughout the week, a variety of science-centric activities will take place across the country, with the Cornwall Public Library and the River Institute getting in on the action.
Highlighting the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), the library will be offering a series of free activities for all ages, as well as some STEM related literature.
“Science can seem really lofty sometimes,” said Karen Douglass Cooper, Communications Specialist with the River Institute. “What we’re trying to do here is put it into context and make it more accessible.”
The week-long event will also celebrate women in science, with Dr. Dominique Lapointe presenting a talk on fish in a changing environment Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Having traveled from Virginia to Brazil, Uganda to Cambodia and back again in her investigative work as a fish physiologist, Dr. Lapointe currently conducts most of her research along the St. Lawrence River, exploring the health and condition of the area’s fish.
“We wanted to emphasize the role of women in science as well, because there are often a lot of barriers for them along the way,” said Douglass Cooper.
The River Institute’s Education Team will also be hosting another special presentation at the Cornwall Public Library on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. ‘Pour a Pond’ is an interactive educational program for children and their parents complete with frogs, invertebrates, insects, and other creatures.
“It gives kids an opportunity to get some hands-on knowledge of the food web,” said Douglass Cooper. “It really helps kids to gain a better understanding when they can explore.”
