On May 10, as the Science Rendezvous festival returned to U of T’s St. George campus, Front Campus was transformed into a bustling science fairground. For 17 years, this annual event has united scientists, students, and curious minds at 30 universities nationwide in a mission to make science more accessible, engaging, and fun. 

A national celebration of science

This year, the festival’s theme, “Wonder,” inspired hands-on learning and creative exploration. The streets were lined with booths where attendees could extract DNA from strawberries, create gooey worms, lava lamps, and glow-in-the-dark art. The goal of the event was to “[spark] interest in S.T.E.A.M… at a young age” while promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

According to Amel Sassi — co-chair of the Science Rendezvous planning committee, a biomedical engineering master’s alumna, and incoming medical student at U of T — accessibility was a key focus this year. Whether it was accessible festival maps, ADA-compliant floor mats, or central booth placements, the staff at Science Rendezvous ensured that the site was accessible and easy to navigate for everyone, including wheelchair users and families with strollers. 

But the event wasn’t just about physical inclusivity. It was also about representation. In an interview with The Varsity, Sassi told us, “We wanted to make sure that our volunteers are representing the diversity here, not only at U of T, but of science itself.” This representation included groups such as women in STEM and folks from underrepresented backgrounds. “We wanted to make sure that we’re showing that no matter who you are… you can be a scientist.”

From instant worms to instant connections

At the heart of the event were its volunteers, consisting of students and researchers stationed at each booth. According to Sassi, the volunteers were there as early as 4:30 in the morning to get things organized. 

Among them was Narjess Khodayari, a high school student volunteer with the “insta-worms” booth, where participants combined sodium alginate — a thickening agent and emulsifier for food — and calcium chloride — a salt used for de-icing — to create gooey, polymer ‘worms.’

“As a volunteer, you know, it’s a fun place,” Khodayari said in an interview with The Varsity. “I felt like the space was very welcoming.” But the activity wasn’t just about making worms. For Khodayari, the magic of teaching science in a public setting comes from making scientific concepts accessible by linking them to relatable aspects of everyday life.

“We can apply [science] and realize how things in the world around us work. For example, for my booth specifically, sodium alginate and calcium chloride are found in many daily products that we use — toothpaste, ice cream, diapers — so it’s just fascinating to learn about [that].”

When asked which booth stood out to her during the day, Khodayari reflected on the diversity of activities at the festival, from robotics to CPR, showing how science is part of almost every aspect of our lives. The range catered to a wide variety of interests, offering many different ways to engage with it. 

Sassi also pointed to the Reptilia Zoo booth, which showcased a variety of reptiles for attendees to interact with and learn about. “You don’t have to pay zoo admission!” she said. “I can guarantee every time I am over there for a demonstration, they’re very excited [and] asking [the booth volunteers] lots of questions.”

According to Sassi, it was the volunteers who brought the theme of “Wonder” to life. “All of these volunteers are trained [through their own experiences in science] with excellent science communication skills,” she explained. “They’re able to equip each and every single one of these students with wonder and curiosity.” 

The volunteers were able to not only explain the science behind their various booths, but also showcase why it can be exciting and fun. Students leave with not only that new knowledge, but also a sense of excitement for science. This excitement is something they can share within their social and familial circles, in a way that traditional science classrooms, often focused on testing and academic rigour, may not always be able to inspire

The importance of science accessibility 

Science Rendezvous 2025 brought thousands together through curiosity, engaging with science in a variety of ways. As Khodayari emphasized, public engagement with science can begin with something as simple as making gooey worms, showcasing a fun, everyday chemical reaction. This can inspire a further exploration of science, whether that’s through pursuing a scientific career or simply engaging with and understanding the science in everyday life, from vaccines to baking. 

For Khodayari, science is “very hands-on,” making it a field of interest anyone can participate in. “For my booth, there was engagement from all ages, from parents to children, asking how this chemical reaction took place. I just want people to be more engaged. Science is for everybody, [there is no] age limit, and there’s always time for more learning.” 

Public engagement with science not only encourages a more diverse group of future scientists to pursue the field but also helps build a better-informed society. From understanding public health policies, supporting environmental preservation movements, making informed nutritional decisions, to navigating doctor’s visits, a greater understanding of science empowers individuals with knowledge for everyday life. A widespread understanding of science reinforces its value to society and is generally considered to benefit every aspect of it. 

U of T can also contribute to making science a more accessible and inclusive field. As Sassi notes, bridging the gap between research and the public is what makes Science Rendezvous so impactful. While academic institutions are huge hubs of scientific research, that research can often be inaccessible to the public, whether it’s due to the paywalls that often hide scholarly articles, highly technical language, or just a lack of effort by scientists or the media to involve the general public in the conversation. 

Science Rendezvous 2025 was a vibrant celebration of curiosity, community involvement, and accessibility. In connecting researchers with families, students, and many other curious minds regardless of age, Science Rendezvous reaffirmed that science isn’t just a discipline; it’s a dialogue. 

Through hands-on activities and intentional representation, the event bridged the gap between academic knowledge and everyday experience, demonstrating how science thrives as a field when people can engage with it outside of laboratories and research papers. If the goal is to build a society that values and understands science, events like this serve as a vital step forward, reminding us that fostering wonder is just as important as advancing discovery.