Gorgeous weather and promises of exciting experiments brought many curious young minds to Durham College (DC) and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) to take part in Science Rendezvous 2014, a free event designed to promote science awareness.

More than 600 people visited the Oshawa campus to explore the more than 60 scientific demonstrations and workshops, which included:

• Making balloon dragsters
• Exploring why Mentos erupt in Diet Coke
• Making lava lamps and glitter globes
• Exploring why candies are certain colours
• Levitating magnets (using science, not wizardry of course).

There were also tours of UOIT’s Automotive Centre for Excellence (ACE) and the Scanning Electron Microscope lab.

At the end of the day, the young scientists had an opportunity to test what they learned and win some prizes with a game of Science Jeopardy.

“We had more than 200 volunteers on our shared campus who the participants experience the joy and excitement of science, engineering technology and mathematics,” said Laura Benninger, professor, School of Science & Engineering Technology, DC. “Together with our organizing team from UOIT, we are pleased to say that the day was a success; with much fun had by volunteers and the community alike.”

Science Rendezvous has been a popular tradition since the inaugural event was held in 2008 with just a handful of venues participating. It is Ontario’s largest public science festival and in 2011 it was held nationwide for the first time.