At Science Rendezvous Kingston, you will get to do fun STEM activities, experiments, and chat with lots of scientists! To learn more about our booths, explore the following list:
Indoor arena
(main bowl)
Welcome to the Olympic biomechanics arena! This booth will give attendees a glimpse into the science that helps elite athletes perform at their best. Through interactive activities and recorded demonstrations, attendees will discover the biomechanics behind Olympic sports and will have the opportunity to compare their own athletic performance to that of world-class athletes!
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The Cardiovascular Imaging Network at Queen’s University (CINQ) is thrilled to be back at Science Rendezvous! Visit our booth to explore the human heart and blood vessels using ultrasound and real human anatomy specimens. Get hands-on, take home your own origami heart, and enjoy face painting right at our booth. It’s fun, exciting, and full of heart!
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Learn how a CT-scanner works and use our mini CT-scanner to see inside of Dr. Squeak’s (our mascot!) Learn where organs live inside your body and how they keep you alive with working models. Use real microscopes to see how different all the cells of your body are and learn why they are all different shapes and sizes. Become a gene sequencer and solve a puzzle! Learn how to align DNA sequences to a reference genome.
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Our booth will highlight how the heart and lungs work – separately and together – to support our bodies during rest, sleep, and exercise. The booth will be hosted by faculty and trainees from the Departments of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences and Medicine and will contain displays, demos, and games.
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Join University Hospitals Kingston for a meet and mingle with our mascot, Asher the Wolf!
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Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the future of surgical robotics! Our booth introduces young minds to the exciting intersection of computer science, engineering, and medicine. Through hands-on demos, we make STEM fields feel accessible and engaging, inspiring curiosity in surgical robotics and computer-integrated surgery. Interactive experiences include:
- Phantom Model – A jelly mold of a body part used in surgical robot development.
- Surgical Tool Registration Demo – Learn how computers “see” surgical tools using a model human skull.
- Surgical Guidance Robot – A safe, small-scale robot demonstrating computer-integrated surgery in action.
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Have you been to the dentist or broken a bone before? If so, chances are you’ve had an x-ray. They are an important part of diagnosis in healthcare systems today. Let’s explore how this technology was discovered and how x-rays work with the Museum of Health Care! Discover how x-rays have evolved over time, starting with it's first use in Kingston.
You’ll be sure to find this booth humerus!
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Visitors will be able to look at bacteria under microscopes, explore the ways bacteria help plants grow, and learn about plastic-eating bacteria.
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Explore the amazing connection between dinosaurs and birds through engaging visuals, fun activities, and hands-on learning! Get creative with bird-themed coloring pages, discover fascinating facts, and see how modern birds carry on the legacy of their prehistoric ancestors.
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Get ready to experience the fascinating tools and techniques that conservators and museum experts use to uncover the secrets of artworks. Through fun activities, live demonstrations, and engaging conversations, you’ll uncover the stories behind the art—how, when, and where it was made—and learn how we keep artwork safe for generations to come.
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Art Conservation Program, Department of Art History & Art Conservation
Get excited about chemistry with small elephant toothpastes, colour changing chemical indicators, dry ice bottle rockets, and periodic table stickers. You’ll learn about chemistry and scientific principles in a fun and interactive way!
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Come learn how we prevent corrosion by doing a colorful experiment with steel wool; try your hand at building a LEGO model of a microprocessor; and see how UV light can make cells light up! You’ll be amazed by all you will learn about the science and technology of metal coatings and how they can benefit society from transportation and construction to green energy, microelectronics, and cancer treatment!
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Discover the inner workings of a railway steam locomotive; how steam is produced, harnessed for use, and the valve action required to use steam in a productive manner.
View a miniature display of equipment, including a hands-on industrial engine showing a steam valve in action, a beautifully illustrated technical poster developed specifically for 6-12 year olds, and a continuously running video showing outdoor train operation at the club's Battersea track site.
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Visitors will be able to observe, interact with and operate our Mars rover used in an international university competition including seeing the technical evolution of the rover equipment. Visitors will also get close and personal with our teams cube satellite used in competitions. Through these opportunities, we hope to spark interest in aerospace engineering for the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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Ingenuity Labs invites you to meet our robots, including a robotic dog, and then learn about virtual reality while "feeling" virtual objects using haptic technology. Not sure what "haptic technology" is? Visit us to find out!
*This group has a satellite booth in the sensory-friendly zone.
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As scientists, we test our predictions by doing careful experiments and making observations. Coming up with a good experiment is sometimes hard, but you can get better with practice! Experience hands-on activities that let visitors become psychological scientists: they can use sensitive camera systems to detect emotions, create and test hypotheses, and play with puzzles of the human brain.
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Check out the Human Body in Motion Demonstrations, including an interactive demonstration of how muscles move limbs and how changes in mechanical advantage of the muscles affect them. Try to arrange 3D printed models of the human bones correctly, interact with our motion capture system, and delve deeper into understanding the intricate mechanics of your body's movement!
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Visitors will be able to play video games made from scratch by local high school students. They can also have a look at the code behind the games, and talk to the creators about how it all came together. Last year, we had games based around Minecraft, Duck Hunt, Space Invaders, Flappy Bird and more! Come see what we've been up to this year!
*This group has a satellite booth in the sensory friendly zone.
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Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with soft robots and mechanisms including grippers and inchworm crawling robots powered by pneumatic air pressure (race a friend!). Come see and experiment with a pneumatic control system used for powering the robots in our research lab and learn about novel materials and fabrication techniques including smart material alloys, silicone casting, mold design, and more as it relates to a brand new approach to bio-inspired robot design.
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Discover the thrill of robotics at the FIRST Tech Challenge booth! Step into the world of innovation, competition, and creativity:
- See the Action - Witness the power and precision of competition-ready robots, standing up to 18x18x18 inches in size, as they take on real-world challenges in live demonstrations on a full-scale 12Ă—12 game field. These robots are built using high-tech components like aluminum frames, 3D-printed parts, custom electronics, and advanced sensors.
- Drive a Bot - Get hands-on with smaller robots and experience the excitement of driving one yourself! Learn the basics of robotics control and programming in a fun, interactive setting.
- Meet the local Teams - Connect with passionate students from local competition teams. Hear firsthand what it’s like to design, build, and program robots for competitive challenges. They'll share their stories, strategies, and what makes being part of a FIRST Tech Challenge team unforgettable.
- Explore the Future - Whether you're curious about coding, love tinkering with mechanics, or just want to see some amazing tech in action, our booth has something for everyone. Bring your curiosity, test your skills, and get inspired to join the next generation of innovators. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore robotics like never before!
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Visitors will be able to explore and interact with various technologies used by members of our STEM & Robotics Clubs at BGC South East, including SPIKE Primes, FIRST Tech Challenge Robots, and 3D Printers.
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Connections invites you to explore the wonders of robotics and try your hand at coding and driving robots through a series of challenges.
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W.A.F.F.L.E.S. Community Robotics is a local non-profit run by passionate volunteers and students (ages 4-18) eager to inspire others in STEM. Come and interact with robots big and small, built by local students. Take part in LEGO activities (make a craft with the help of a LEGO robot!) and see FIRST® robots in action.
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Come play with our student-built 125-pound 2025 competition robot, and watch it do it's thing!
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Ever wondered what it takes to create a robot for team competitions? Check out the Machine Mavericks 2025 competition robot, and learn how to drive one. Let your curiosity lead the way!
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Concourse
University is a place that is fundamentally all about wonder! How did that happen? Why did that occur? Seeking answers that satisfy curiosity, explain the inexplicable, and familiarize the unfamiliar is the work undertaken across łÉČË´óƬ. Come check out our display of records to see how this process has played out throughout the history of the institution. Examine artifacts, photographs, and documents that showcase how Queen’s and Kingston-based scientists used their sense of wonder and curiosity to make incredible discoveries, create fascinating inventions, and solve difficult problems.
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Drop by our booth to see the spectacular science kits and new science books that we have for local K to 12 teachers and community members to borrow. The booth will feature the two kits in the Paleontology Teaching Kit series: Feet, Flight, and Flippers: An Introduction to Vertebrate Evolution (Grades 4-6) and Vertebrate Evolution: New Bodies That Colonized New Habitats (Grades 10 to 12), along with the previous two kits that used the fossils of ice age mammals to explore climate, habitat, and extinction. You can examine the fossil cast of a real saber-tooth tiger skull! You will also have the chance to color code a path for ozobots to navigate, and throughout the day our Library staff will have surprise button-making sessions when you can select a "wonder" button to have made just for you.
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Visit our booth for an interactive adventure where light and shadows come to life! Dive into the fascinating world of light, shapes, and shadows through fun experiments and hands-on activities. Young scientists will discover how light behaves and how shadows are formed.
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Learn about the geology of the Kingston area through hands-on activities for kids and adults!
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Detect moisture hidden behind the wall using the TRAMAX moisture meter and FLIR thermal imaging camera. Learn about the dangers of moisture leading to mold.
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This booth highlights the projects conducted by this year's talented students for the Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Science Fair. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with the young innovators, explore their hands-on demonstrations, and gain insights into the scientific processes behind their work. From environmental solutions to technological advancements, discover how the next generation is tackling real-world challenges with creativity and scientific rigour.​
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Learn how the principles of optics are used to transmit information and measure properties of light, through interactive demonstrations of total internal reflection and diffraction. Visitors will see how a laser beam can be confined in a stream of water and how this same principle allows us to send light over long distances. Kids can experience how a diffraction grating splits light into its component colours, and see how this is used to measure the colour of a light source using a CD.
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Explore the marvels of nuclear energy and how it can be used to make electricity! Visit us for an immersive experience in the fascinating world of nuclear power. Build your own 3D atom model and witness live experiments on radiation, heat conduction, and corrosion. Explore interactive and informative exhibits on how a nuclear power plant works and the cool careers in materials and mechanical engineering.
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Northeye is an augmented reality game allowing elementary school children to learn about the history of a medieval village. At our booth, you will be able to play the game using an iPad and explore the lives of these medieval villagers. Northeye was developed by a team of historians, educators, geologists, and computer scientists.
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If you're out on a nature walk, what clues can you use to know which animals share the space with you? Use your nature-sleuth skills and a variety of clues, tools, and identification guides to learn how to identify local wildlife. Participants will have the chance to examine animal pelts, skulls, tracks, and other artifacts to learn about local wildlife.
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Join Science Quest for an exciting, interactive science experience where visitors of all ages can explore the wonders of STEM through hands-on experiments and engaging demonstrations. Our station will feature fun and accessible activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire a love for science. Whether you're experimenting with fascinating reactions, exploring the physics of motion, or uncovering the hidden forces that shape our world, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Stop by to discover, create, and have fun with science!
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Learn about the spreads of invasive plants, herbicide-resistant agricultural weeds, ticks and tick-borne diseases through hands-on activities including colouring, button-making, and a chance to practice your tick-checking skills.
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The Department of Chemical Engineering invites scientists of all ages to come play at our booth! Interact with our Oobleck experiment and discover how non-Newtonian fluids behave under pressure, or magnify your vision with our microscope to view different specimens under a microscope.
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Visitors can learn all about protecting the brain! Touch a jelly brain mold, learn about concussions, proper bike helmet fittings, and safe sports information.
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Visitors to the booth will be treated to a variety of different engineering wonders and interactive activities to explore.
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Have you ever wondered what happens to the water you pour down the drain? The Contaminants of Emerging Concern - Research Excellence Network (CEC-REN) at Queen’s University is here to uncover the BIG DARK SECRET about water! Dive into CEC-REN’s fun and interactive exhibit to discover what makes water dirty and how we can help keep it clean. Explore cool displays that reveal where these “yucky” contaminants come from and how they affect nature and us. Hear the fascinating stories about how our researchers work to make our water safer, watch our water treatment demo, and roll up your sleeves to help clean up some pretend contaminants. It’s an adventure you won’t want to miss!
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The Contaminants of Emerging Concern - Research Excellence Network (CEC-REN)
Learn how to read a topography map! By shaping real sand by hand, visitors can learn about land surveying by creating topography models which are then augmented in real time by an elevation color map, topographic contour lines, and simulated water.
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Get ready to explore physics in action! Visitors can test a real hoverboard, experiment with a vacuum bell jar to see how air affects sound and objects, and explore angular momentum by spinning on a stool with a bike wheel. Try your hand at laser chess with mirrors, marvel at turbulent flow with rheostatic fluid spinners, and observe optical effects like polarization and birefringence. This booth also features a chaotic pendulum, science art activities like spirographs, and a virtual tour of SNOLAB, alongside interactive displays on cutting-edge physics research.
* This research group will have a satellite booth outside on The Tragically Hip Way, and in the Sensory Friendly Science Zone.
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Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy
The Queen's Observatory
The Tragically Hip Way
(outdoor space)
Visitors can learn about the sustainable initiatives of the Queen's Relectric Car Team, a student-led electrification design team bringing end-of-life combustion vehicles back on the road. Our electric 1997 Jeep TJ Wrangler will be on display along with team members to help showcase our goals, innovations, and projects.
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Visitors will have the opportunity to engage directly with our Baja vehicle. Get up close to see the car and sit in the driver’s seat for a hands-on experience! We will also bring along extra parts from previous vehicles, allowing guests to pick them up and look at them up close. Come learn more about the engineering, innovation and racing at the Baja Booth!
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View the Sun with solar telescopes, using safe solar filters. RASC Kingston members will be on hand to answer questions about astronomy, show how to use the planisphere and interpret posters about the Sun, the night sky, and the effects of light pollution.
Test your knowledge with quiz cards by answering “Stellar” questions about outer space, and take-home astronomy related crossword puzzles, mazes, colour pages, stickers, starfinders, and light pollution assessment protocols.
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Experience the thrill of exploration by test-driving our human-powered rover on a simulated Martian terrain! Up to two visitors at a time can hop onto this two-seater, bike-like rover and navigate a series of obstacles. Challenge yourself—or a friend—as you race against the clock for the best time!
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Say "Hello" to our living, local bees in their observation hives and learn why bees are important for the environment and food systems.
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Help create giant asteroid-themed sidewalk chalk art, watch an impact crater demo to see how collisions shape planets, and safely observe the Sun using solar telescopes and solar viewing glasses. Perfect for space lovers of all ages!
*This research group will have booths in the concourse and the sensory-friendly science zone.
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Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy
The Queen's Observatory
Join Kingston Police for fun activities!
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Sensory Friendly Science Zone
(Level 300)
Children of all ages can build Lego Robots, drive and play with VEXIQ robots, and colour or draw their own Lego robots.
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Comet Tech Lancers - LCVI/Calvin Parks PS/Limestone District School Board
Visitors will be able to play video games made from scratch by local high school students. They can also have a look at the code behind the games, and talk to the creators about how it all came together. Last year, we had games based around Minecraft, Duck Hunt, Space Invaders, Flappy Bird and more! Come see what we've been up to this year!!!
* This group also has a booth in the main bowl.
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Step back in time to discover how the Great Fire of 1840 shaped Kingston. Through an interactive map activity, participants will explore this historic blaze and how it 'sparked' changes in construction and water access.
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Curiosity Corner with Let's Talk Science will provide hands-on activities for youth of all ages to participate in and learn about science! We’ll have everything your child needs to colour individual works of art, solve mathemagical puzzles, make a coded bracelet, write a secret message using invisible ink, and other fun activities.
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Ingenuity Labs invites you to meet our robots, including a robotic dog, and then learn about virtual reality while "feeling" virtual objects using haptic technology. Not sure what "haptic technology" is? Visit us to find out!
*This group also has a booth in the main bowl.
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View life-like turtle models of common species in Kingston, learn about the impacts of fishing on local wildlife, practice wildlife rehabilitation on stuffies, and view x-rays of patients at SPWC.
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Visitors can extract DNA from strawberries using household items, craft DNA friendship bracelets, and learn how cells respond to environmental change.
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Visitors will be able to play and combine a selection of oscillator tones, and hear them while viewing their waveforms on an oscilloscope and a spectrum analyzer. Then they can further experimentally modify the tones and see changes in waveform, by applying a low pass filter. Visitors will be able to also feel the tones' vibrations through a contact speaker.
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Come explore the science of crystals! What is a crystal? How do they form? What do we use them for? At the Miller Museum of Geology station you can watch crystals grow in real time, see, touch, and explore crystals of all shapes, sizes, and colours, and take home your very own mineral specimen.
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Discover the science of motion, light, and energy! Experiment with a gravity table to see how objects move through space, create your own UV-detecting bead bracelet, explore how light bends with a water refraction demo, and get hands-on with swirling whirlpool bottles.
*This research group will have booths in the concourse and outdoors along the Tragically Hip Way.
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Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy
The Queen's Observatory
Visitors can observe waves travel in a clear flume, as they transform and break on a scale model beach. Props will be used to illustrate wave transport mechanisms and potential risks to nearshore infrastructure on the beach.
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