Talk to Scientists, Engineers, Authors
Free sessions for students from grades 1 to 10
The purpose of ‘Talk to Scientists, Engineers and Authors’ sessions is to give children an opportunity to listen and interact with STEM experts. We hope that these sessions will introduce kids to various STEM fields and inspire them to learn more. To register for these free sessions, please send an email to contact@astrostemlabs.com
PAST EVENTS
A Journey through the Arctic: MOSAiC Expedition
Dr. Vishnu Nandan
Polar remote sensing scientist
University of Calgary
Dr. Vishnu Nandan is a polar remote sensing scientist, working on the Arctic and the Antarctic sea ice. He is an experienced polar adventurer with 15+ field expeditions to both North and South poles. He is the only Indian who participated in the year-long MOSAiC International Arctic Drift Expedition: the largest and the longest Expedition into the Arctic Ocean.
Dr. Nandan finished his PhD in Geography at the University of Calgary. He completed 2 post doctoral fellowships from the Universities of Victoria and Manitoba. His M.Sc degree was from the European Space Agency in the Netherlands, where he traveled to Amazon rain forests to complete his M.Sc research. He is an Electronics Engineer by background from University of Kerala.
Over the past 12 years, he has traveled to 76 countries, traveled to all 7 continents and 5 Oceans; finishing his bucket list of dreams.
Carbon Dioxide Removal as a Climate Solution
Dr. Benjamin Tutolo
Associate Professor of Geosciences
University of Calgary
Ben Tutolo is an Associate Professor of Geosciences at the University of Calgary, where he has worked for nearly five years. Before coming to Alberta, Ben did his undergraduate degree in Environmental Systems Engineering at Penn State University and his PhD in Geology at the University of Minnesota. From 2015 to 2017, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oxford. Ben teaches various geochemistry-focused courses at the U of C at the undergraduate and graduate level.His research focuses on the reactive movement of fluids, solutes, and heat in geologic systems. He measures the physical and chemical properties of rocks, waters, and gases sampled in the field, and those produced in the laboratory, to develop numerical models of these processes.
Boots on the ground: Using Earth to look for life on Mars
Dr. Allyson Brady, McMaster University
Dr. Allyson Brady is currently a researcher in the School of Earth, Environment and Society at McMaster University and is actively involved in astrobiology and space exploration research. Her main area of interest is in understanding how life can exist in harsh environments on Earth, and how we can use that information to help find evidence for past life elsewhere in the solar system.
Astronomy & Indigenous knowledge
Dr. Hilding Neilson, University of Toronto
Dr. Hilding Neilson is a CLTA assistant professor in the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto where he uses models and observations to understand the physics of stars and exoplanets..
Space Jam: Orbital Debris and How To Clean It Up
Thomas Sears, Queen's University
Thomas Sears is a PhD Candidate at Queen's University, currently researching how to make mobile robots, like lunar or Mars rovers, detect and model changes in the environment.
Monitoring black bear populations in the American Southwest
Dr. Matthew Gould, New Mexico State University
Dr. Matthew Gould is a wildlife biologist based in the western United States. His research focuses on the processes that shape the distribution, connectivity, and demographic and genetic health of wildlife populations, primarily with a focus on carnivores and raptors.
Multilingual and Multicultural Science Communication
Dr.Roopali Chaudhary, Founder & CEO, Lotus STEMM
Dr.Roopali Chaudhary, Founder & CEO, Lotus STEMM
Dr. Roopali gave a talk on the importance of multilingual and multicultural science communication. Many students, science communicators and researchers attended the session on Nov 29, 2020
Introduction to Vision Science
Dr. Larissa Vingilis-Jaremko, Founder & President, CAGIS
On 16th May 2020, Dr. Larissa Vingilis-Jaremko gave a talk on the topic “Vision science”. The Canadian Association for Girls In Science (CAGIS) is an award-winning club for girls aged 7 to 16 that supports interest in Science, Technology, Trades, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In 1992, at age nine, Larissa Vingilis-Jaremko founded CAGIS
The Science in Science Fiction
Mr. Hari Kumar Nair, Science fiction writer, Electrical Engineer
Mr.Hari Kumar Nair is a Toronto based science fiction writer and an Electrical Engineer working for the Canadian government in the transportation sector. He self-published his first science fiction thriller, ‘Intersection Man.’ The first part was published in 2015, and the sequel in 2017. It’s a hard science fiction book about a man stuck in the intersection of two universes following a scientific experiment.
In this talk, Hari shared his thoughts on the science behind science fiction in the context of his experience.
Tiny but mighty! The wonders of the islet
Dr. Krishana Sankar – Bioengineering and molecular biology scientist
Dr. Krishana Sankar is an award winning & published researcher at the University of Toronto in the Faculty of Medicine. Her PhD research used a combination of bioengineering and molecular biology to study islets of langerhans (insulin making cells). Her research focused on improving the a treatment for type 1 diabetes known as islet transplantation.
On 9th May 2020, Dr. Krishana Sankar gave a talk on the topic “Tiny but mighty! The wonders of the islet”
Journey in STEM and space
Dr. Sara Mazrouei – Planetary Scientist
Dr. Sara Mazrouei is a planetary scientist, educator and science communicator with a passion for sharing the wonders of the universe with the public. Her PhD research focused on the recent bombardment history of the Moon and links to future sample-return missions. Her work has been featured in many media such as the New York Times and National Geographic. Sara is also passionate about increasing the status of women in STEM as well as equity, diversity and meaningful inclusion. Sara uses storytelling, examples including the Story Collider and TEDx Downsview Women , as method for sharing her authentic experiences and making science more accessible.
Cell division and its role in development and disease
Dr. Arul Subramanian – Project Scientist
Dr. Arul Subramanian is a project scientist at the lab of Prof Tom Schilling in the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). His research focuses on understanding the genetics of tendon development using zebrafish and rodent model systems. He completed his Ph.D. from Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel under the guidance of Prof. Talila Volk and published two papers from his thesis work on Drosophila (fruit fly) tendon development. He has also taught Cell biology to undergrad students at UCI.
Misconceptions about the Big Bang
Prof. Mike Reid – Astrophysicist
Dr. Michael Reid is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto and Public Outreach Coordinator for the Dunlap Institute. He specializes in making astronomy concepts accessible to everyone, both through astronomy classes for non-specialists and through numerous events and programs for the general public. On 17th April 2020, Dr Michael Reid gave a talk on ‘Misconceptions about the Big Bang’
Junior Astronauts program
Dr. Parshati Patel – Astrophysicist
Dr. Parshati Patel is an astrophysicist, science communicator, researcher and educator based in London, Ontario. She is an Educational Outreach and Communications Specialist at the Institute for Earth and Space Exploration and an Adjunct Research Professor in the Faculty of Education at Western University. She has a PhD in Astronomy and Planetary Science and Exploration from Western University
Astronomy career opportunities
Dr. Bhairavi Shankar – Planetary Scientist
Dr. Bhairavi is a Planetary Scientist and founder/CEO of Indus Space. She has research experience in remote sensing applications and data visualization techniques. Through her company, she actively focuses on raising public awareness about Space Science and Exploration.
Introduction to renewable energy
Mr. Ranjith Puthenmalika, Electrical Engineer
Ranjith Puthenmalika is a Toronto based engineer working in the Information Technology sector as an IT Architect. He is an Electrical & Electronics engineer with masters in Instrumentation & Control Systems. He is a renewable energy enthusiast and has built home-based microgrid solar energy systems. His hobbies include modern farming like hydroponics and volunteering for social causes.