Curiosity and skepticism are two of the main drivers of science research. These were also the inspiration behind this year’s Science Literacy Week.
Jesse Hildebrand, a recent University of Toronto graduate and the founder of Science Literacy Week, describes the occasion as “an event designed to promote public understanding of science.” The week-long affair took place this past week across U of T, York University, the Toronto Public Libraries, and Mississauga Public Libraries.
“I had frankly conceived of it as being a much smaller event, but as it turned out, once the ball got rolling, people really got involved in a big way and were extremely excited to help,” said Hildebrand.
Hildebrand’s initiative is driven by his own childhood experiences.
“Ever since I was little, I was fascinated by science. Every time I would express interest in a new topic, my parents would take me to a library and let me explore,” he said.
Participants at Science Literacy Week. ELENA IOURTAEVA/THE VARSITY
He hopes to make science accessible to everyone so as to inspire others in the same way he was. “[My parents’] effort led to my lifelong desire to go into science communication, and literally the day after I finished my degree I set out to make this happen, and so enable anyone in the city to have the same experience that I had,” he said.
During the week, science-themed book displays greeted students who entered Gerstein library, Thomas Fisher library, and the Dentistry library at U of T during the week.
“I think that the history of science is so crucial to understand how we got to where we are today,” said Amie Lalonde, a third-year history student, as she perused the book display at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book library.
The wide range of Science Literacy Week events included a chance to view Mars, Saturn, and the Ring Nebula through the telescopes on the fourteenth floor of the Burton Tower at the McLennan Physical Laboratories. Additionally, a lecture series at Gerstein library featuring lectures on dinosaurs, the evolution of parasites, and the big bang theory ensured that there was an event to spark the curiosity of every attendee.
Hildebrand is hopeful about the future of Science Literacy Week. “My vision for it has no bounds really,” he said, adding, “I’d be thrilled if it became an event of the same scale again next year, but I have plans to make it nationwide and to (fingers crossed) make it the largest event of its kind in Canada.”
Jesse Hildebrand was formerly a staff writer for The Varsity.
