North York Central Library, Science & Technology

Free Science* Events

*and applied-science

Please confirm the date and time of events prior to attending, as they sometimes change.

Thursday, October 2

Bigger, Better, Stronger, Faster – Are Stem Cells the Answer? CIHR Café Scientifique. Café Scientifiques provide an insight into health-related issues of popular interest to the general public, and in turn provoke questions and provide answers.

Time & location: 5:30 PM Hard Rock Cafe, Upstairs, 279 Yonge St. Registration required: Email: [email protected] For more information: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/35897.html

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrology: What’s in a Name? University of Toronto AstroTours. Speaker: Dr. Michael Williams. Take a voyage through time and see how astronomy, astrophysics and yes, even astrology are connected. Explore how human understanding of the universe around us has evolved from an Earth-centred view to our modern cosmology, of an expanding universe, where the Earth is just one world among many.

Time & location: 8:10 PM McLennan Physical Labs, Room ?, 60 St. George St. Register for http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/october-2nd-uoft-astrotour-planetarium-shows- planetarium show: tickets-13331931165 For more information: http://www.astro.utoronto.ca/astrotours/?page_id=392

Saturday, October 4

Bird Walk. Citizens Concerned About the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront. Leader: David Pryor. The walks are led by experienced birders.

Time & location: 9 – 11 AM Colonel Samuel Smith Park, 3145 Lakeshore Blvd. West Meet in the south parking lot (http://goo.gl/mrvAfY) For more information: http://www.ccfew.org/html/bird_walks.html

Green Energy Doors Open. Ontario Sustainable Energy. An opportunity to access individual, community, public and commercial sustainable energy projects, businesses, manufacturing sites, education programs and other related initiatives. Participating organizations include: Greenpeace Toronto, Steam Whistle Brewing, Wychwood Barns, and many more.

Time & location: Please check website for time and location of events Search for events: http://greenenergydoorsopen.ca/events-2/events-map/ For more information: http://greenenergydoorsopen.ca/

Sunday, October 5

Plumage and Plants. Sunday Walking Tours. High Park Nature Centre. Leader: Ken Sproule. Walks are led by volunteer scientists, historians and local naturalists who will help you to understand and explore High Park’s many significant features. Walks may go on wooded trails, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Time & location: 10:30 AM – 12 PM High Park, 200 Parkside Dr. Meet at the benches, across the road from the south side of Grenadier Restaurant, in the middle of High Park For more information: http://www.highparknature.org/wiki/wiki.php?n=Explore.WalkingTours

Designing Toronto’s Open Spaces. Toronto Field Naturalists. Architects James Brown and Kim Storey link biodiversity through design of Toronto’s open spaces, including rail and hydro corridors.

Time & location: 2:30 PM Northrop Frye Building, 75 Queens Park Cres. For more information: http://www.torontofieldnaturalists.org/v-lectures.htm

Tuesday, October 7

Common Era Sea-Level Change. Distinguished Lecturer Series. University of Toronto. Centre for Global Change Science. Speaker: Benjamin Horton, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey.

Time & location: 3:30 PM Galbraith Building, Room 119, 35 St. George St. For more information: http://www.cgcs.utoronto.ca/Series/2014-2015_Lectures.htm

Wednesday, October 8

Science and the Paranormal. Dean’s Lecture. Ryerson University. Faculty of Science. Speaker: Joe Schwarcz, McGill University. This lecture examines paranormal phenomena and describes how many of the effects can be explained by perfectly “natural” means. The presentation is highlighted by a number of “demonstrations” aimed at increasing the awareness of the need to evaluate “paranormal” phenomena by critical scientific methods. Time & location: 6 – 9 PM George Vari Engineering and Computer Centre, Room ENG-103, 245 Church St. Registration required: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/deans-lecture-science-and-the-paranormal- tickets-12939102203 For more information: http://www.ryerson.ca/news/events/General_Public/20141008-fos-dean- lecture.html

Thursday, October 9

Exploring the Early Bombardment of the Solar System. Earth Sciences Seminar Series. University of Toronto. Dept. of Earth Sciences. Speaker: Bill Bottke, Southwest Research Institute.

Time & location: 12 PM Earth Sciences Centre, Room 2093, 22 Russell St. For more information: http://webcan.es.utoronto.ca/research/seminars/

ML Systems: Experience with Machine Learning as a Distributed Systems Problem Space. Distinguished Lectures Series. University of Toronto. Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Speaker: Garth Gibson, Carnegie Mellon University.

Time & location: 3 PM Sandford Fleming Building, Room 1105, 10 King’s College Rd. For more information: http://www.ece.utoronto.ca/about/distinguished-lectures/2014-2015- speakers/#Gibson

Thursday, October 16

Crustal Structure of Ellesmere Island (Eurekan Orogen) Integrated with a Regional Geological Cross-Section. Earth Sciences Seminar Series. University of Toronto. Dept. of Earth Sciences. Speaker: Randell Stephenson, University of Aberdeen.

Time & location: 12 PM Earth Sciences Centre, Room 2093, 22 Russell St. For more information: http://webcan.es.utoronto.ca/research/seminars/

Saturday, October 18

Go ENG Girl. University of Toronto. An event for girls (grades 7 – 10) and their parents to learn from women professionals, academics and students about the wonderful world of engineering. The University of Toronto holds this event annually in collaboration with the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering to give participants an opportunity to not only participate in fun, hands-on projects but also speak to people currently in the field of engineering. A free lunch is included.

Time & location: 9 AM – 2 PM Wallberg Memorial Building, 184-200 College St. Registration required: http://www.onwie.ca/programs/go-eng-girl/go-eng-girl-registration-form Complete permission http://outreach.engineering.utoronto.ca/files/2014/08/Parental-Permission- form: form-GEG-U-OF-T.pdf For more information: http://outreach.engineering.utoronto.ca/event/go-eng-girl/?instance_id

Sunday, October 19

Autumn Splendour Photo-Buff Walk. Sunday Walking Tours. High Park Nature Centre. Leader: David Allen. Walks are led by volunteer scientists, historians and local naturalists who will help you to understand and explore High Park’s many significant features. Walks may go on wooded trails, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Tuesday, October 21

Mechanisms for Amplifying Solar-Cycle Effects on Climate. Distinguished Lecturer Series. University of Toronto. Centre for Global Change Science. Speaker: Gavin Schmidt, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Science.

Time & location: 3:30 PM Galbraith Building, Room 119, 35 St. George St. For more information: http://www.cgcs.utoronto.ca/Series/2014-2015_Lectures.htm

Thursday, October 23

Urban Tree Canopy. Discover the Don Speaker Series. The Don Watershed Regeneration Council and Toronto and Region Conservation. Learn about the value of, the threats to, and the action to restore Toronto’s tree canopy.

Time & location: 6:30 PM – 9 PM North York Central Library, Auditorium, 5120 Yonge St. Registration required: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/discover-the-don-speaker-series-urban-tree- canopy-edition-tickets-12710759223 For more information: http://www.discoverthedon.com/speakerseries

Saturday, October 25

The New ROM Butterfly Field Guide: The Background Story. Toronto Entomologists’ Association. Two of the field guide co-authors will explain what is in the guide and the various decisions that had to be made to bring the field guide into existence.

Time & location: 1:15 PM Victoria College, Room 206, 91 Charles St. West For more information: http://www.ontarioinsects.org/meetings.htm

Tuesday, October 28

Brain Tumour. Lunch & Learn. Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Feed your mind and your body as you listen to Princess Margaret’s physicians and researchers speak on a variety of cancer topics. Bring a lunch.

Time & location: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Auditorium, 6th Floor, Room 6-604, 610 University Ave. For more information: http://www.theprincessmargaret.ca/en/PatientsFamilies/library/LunchAndLear n/Pages/lunch-learn.aspx

Clutter as we Age – When Does Collecting Become a Problem? Speaker Series. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. An evening discussion on hoarding disorder. Leading Sunnybrook experts will discuss the difference between collecting, clutter and hoarding disorder, aging and collecting and what to do if you or a loved one has hoarding disorder. Free parking in Garage One.

Time & location: 6:30 PM McLaughlin Auditorium, E Wing Ground Floor, Bayview Campus, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave. Registration required: Call (416) 480-4117 or email [email protected] or visit http://sunnybrook.ca/calendar/event.asp?e=900&m=&page=33990

Wednesday, October 29

Misconceptions of the Big Bang. Speaker’s Night. Royal Astronomical Society of Canada – Toronto Centre. Join speaker Dr. Michael Reid as he clarifies what we do and don’t know about the Big Bang.

Time & location: 7 – 10 PM Imperial Oil Auditorium, Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Rd. For more information: http://rascto.ca/content/speakers-night-4

Thursday, October 30

Cybergenetics: Feedback Control of Living Cells at the Gene Level. Distinguished Lectures Series. University of Toronto. Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Speaker: Mustafa Khammash, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich.

Time & location: 3 PM Sandford Fleming Building, Room 1105, 10 King’s College Rd. For more information: http://www.ece.utoronto.ca/about/distinguished-lectures/2014-2015- speakers/#Khammash

Friday, October 31

New Advances in the Biology and Treatment of Cancer. 2014 Gairdner Symposium. University of Toronto. An opportunity to hear international oncology leaders from around the world talk about cancer treatment research.

Time & location: 8:30 AM – 4 PM Macleod Auditorium, Medical Science Building, 1 King’s College Circle Registration required: Email [email protected] or [email protected] For more information: http://www.gairdner.org/content/university-toronto-macleod-atrium-0

Health Literacy. Toronto Western Hospital. A free health talk for patients, family and community members delivered by clinicians from the University Health Network.

Time & location: 1 – 2:30 PM Toronto Western Hospital, Auditorium, 2nd Floor, West Wing, 399 Bathurst St. Registration required: Email [email protected] or call (416) 603-6475 For more information: http://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Patient_Family_Educ ation/Pages/classes_events.aspx

Weekly events

Wednesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29

Community Night. Toronto Tool Library. Test-drive tools, like 3D printers, laser cutters or the woodshop on free community nights. Try working on a project or innovating with others. Check out the community space and meet the team at the Toronto Tool Library.

Time & location: 7 – 10 PM Toronto Tool Library (East), 1803 Danforth Ave. For more information: Call (647) 498-1258 or visit http://torontotoollibrary.com/event/community- night-free-10/

Observatory Public Viewing. York University Observatory. On public viewing nights, visitors are able to observe selected celestial objects in the presence of helpful staff, in addition to engaging in various on-hand presentations. The observatory is open regardless of weather conditions, even though viewing through the telescope is limited to clear skies.

Time & location: 7:30 – 9:30 PM Petrie Science & Engineering Building, 4700 Keele St. For more information: http://astronomy.blog.yorku.ca/tour-request/join-us-wednesday/

Saturdays, October 4 & 18

Meditation Courses on the Danforth. Meditation Toronto. The course is perfect for beginners or seasoned meditation practitioners and consists of a few different methods of meditation. The first method involves sound meditation with deep breathing. The second consists of meditation with beads, and the third consists of meditation with music. Overall, the practice is simple, deeply relaxing and beneficial to all levels.

Time & location: 1 – 2 PM Eastminster United Church, Boardroom, 310 Danforth Ave. For more information: http://www.meditationtoronto.com/danforth.html

Sundays, October 5, 12, 19 & 26

Sunday Morning Bird Walks. Tommy Thompson Park. Take a guided bird hike every Sunday morning during fall migration. Search for birds along the nature trails and visit the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station. Be sure to dress for the weather and wear comfortable, waterproof footwear. Bring plenty of water and snacks, and a pair of binoculars.

Time & location: 8 – 11 AM Tommy Thompson Park, 1 Leslie St. For more information: http://tommythompsonpark.ca/home/special.dot

There are also free programs at the Toronto Public Library.

 Science & Technology programs: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs-and- classes/categories/science-technology.jsp  Health & Wellness programs: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/programs- and-classes/categories/health-wellness.jsp

Or have a look at the What’s On program guide, available in branches.

Also, connect with us online and get the latest library news, event listings and librarian expertise at the North York Central Library blog: http://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/north-york-central-blog/

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North York Central Library, Science & Technology Department