Innovation150 Power of Ideas Tour comes to Charlottetown, public welcome

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Department of Physics is excited to host the Innovation150 Power of Ideas Tour while it makes its stop in Charlottetown October 31 to November 1. The event is free and open to the public from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, November 1 at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre on the UPEI campus, following two days of school visits.

“We are looking forward to welcoming about 1,100 Island students in grades 10–12, and youth and their families, to this world-class science experience on the UPEI campus,” says Dr. Bill Whelan, Chair of UPEI’s Department of Physics. “We are pleased to partner with the Innovation150 Secretariat and the UPEI School of Sustainable Design Engineering to offer this experiential learning opportunity that inspires curiosity and the exploration of ideas that will shape our future.”

The event includes an innovation talk and exhibition, presented by the Perimeter Institute, which features hands-on, mind-expanding activities. Participants will explore the cosmic speed limit, the mysteries of dark matter, black holes and even more importantly, the power of ideas, big and small. From delving into two of the world’s largest science experiments to exploring changing ideas about our universe, this immersive experience fosters new curiosities and a better understanding of how the world is understood.

The experience also features Actua’s Maker Mobile, a maker-space that includes exciting, cutting-edge technology that encourages youth to experiment and build with hands-on learning. Youth have a unique opportunity to learn how to create and prototype using design software, and watch their inventions come to life with laser cutters.

The Power of Ideas Tour will travel to approximately 100 communities across Canada throughout 2017, stopping in every province and territory, including the Far North. The Tour’s progress can be followed online at innovation150.ca. Innovation150 is a Canada 150 Signature Initiative, funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island. UPEI is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

More on the Power of Ideas Exhibition:

Designed and developed by Perimeter Institute in collaboration with the Ontario Science Centre, this hands-on exhibition introduces youth and their families to the powerful ideas and the cutting-edge experiments helping us understand the natural world. Travelling to schools and science centres across the country, this inspiring exhibition enables youth and their families to take a hands-on approach to learning the process of science. From delving into two of the world’s largest science experiments to exploring changing ideas about our universe, this immersive experience fosters curiosity and a better understanding of how we investigate our world.

•Wall of Ideas—Discover the real story behind some of our greatest scientific thinkers by immersing yourself in this interactive wall of ideas. 

•WhatsInTheTube—Guess what’s happening inside this massive mystery tube by teaming up to pull on large ropes. You might be surprised to discover there’s more than one way to skin Schrödinger’s cat.

•Colliding Particles—Step in and explore the most complex machine on Earth, the Large Hadron Collider. 

•Peer into the Past—How does the cosmic speed limit help us see back to the beginning of the universe? 

•A Planet-Sized Telescope—If there was a supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, wouldn’t you want to see it? Bonus: you can stand at the edge of a black hole and watch your legs turn to spaghetti!

•Spin to Infin’—With the flick of your wrist, travel from the vastness of the universe all the way down to the subatomic scale. On the way, you’ll learn just how many questions scientists still have from the quantum to the cosmos.

•Demonstration Table—Get hands-on with science demos facilitated by the Power of Ideas tour staff.