2023 conference program

The 2023 SWCC Annual Conference takes place from 4-6 June, in Ottawa, at the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology. The conference is followed by two days of tours of cool, local science. Register today!

Agenda for Sunday, 4 June

7:00 - 9:00 pm

Join us for the opening reception of the 2023 SWCC Annual Conference at the Albion Rooms, located in the Novotel Hotel, 33 Nicholas Street.

Agenda for Monday, 5 June

	Auditorium	Event Hall
8:00 - 8:45	Registration (Museum's Main Lobby)
8:45 - 9:00	Welcoming Remarks
9:00 - 10:00	Making it Clear, Simple, and Relevant: What the IPPC Report Shows Us About Climate Communication Challenges Speaker: Anton Holland, President and CEO and Director of Risk and Science Communication, NIVA
10:00 - 10:30	Break	Break
10:30 - 12:00	Remaining Relevant for a National Audience Speaker: Emily Chung, Senior Reporter with the Science, Climate and Environment Unit, CBC Moderator: Jay Whetter, Canadian farm journalist, Editor of Canola Digest, and SWCC Treasurer	Let's Hash(tag) it Out Together: A Workshop to (re)Discover how Social Media can put the Fun Back in Science Speaker: Sumeep Bath, Editorial and Communications Manager, IISD Experimental Lakes Area
12:00 - 1:00	Lunch	Lunch
1:00 - 2:30	Meaning Making Through Methods of Communications: Storytelling, Animation, and Humour Speakers: Lexa Graham, comedian, writer, scientist and Founder of DNAtured.com Lauren Kelly, Animator, McDonald Institute Zachary Kenny, Communications Officer, McDonald Institute James Shelley, Knowledge Mobilization Specialist, Western University	The Role of Science Communication to Advance Democracy Speakers: Dr. Caitlin Fowler, Senior Research Associate, Evidence for Democracy Dr. Vanessa Sung, Interim Executive Director, Evidence for Democracy
2:30 - 3:00	Break	Break
3:00 - 4:30	How to Help Researchers Give a Talk Anyone Can Understand Speakers: Amelia Buchanan, Senior Communications Specialist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Chanèle Cyr-Depauw, MSc, PhD, Laboratory Manager, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Dr. Tim Ramsay, Senior Scientist, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and Associate Professor, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa	Blending Numbers, Stories, and Art: A Case Study in Supporting Canada’s Immigrant Women in STEM Speaker: Samantha Fowler, Knowledge Mobilization and Communications Coordinator, TechGirls
Evening :	Dine Around Ottawa

Agenda for Tuesday, 6 June

	Auditorium	Event Hall
8:00 - 8:30	Registration (Museum's Main Lobby)
8:30 - 10:00	Pitch the Dragon's Den Speakers: Moderator: Brian Owens, freelance journalist Sonya Buyting, Producer Quirks & Quarks, CBC Alexandra Pope, Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Geographic Allison Shelley, Executive Editor, Medscape/WebMD Colin Schultz, News Editor, Hakai Magazine	Let's Talk About Death Speaker: Jane Caulfield, PhD Student, University of Colorado, College of Communication, Media and Information); Owner and Principal Writer, Tin Box Digital Content
10:00 - 10:30	Break	Break
10:30 - 12:00	Diversity and Inclusion in Science Communications: a panel and experiment Speakers: Moderator: Amanda Gerges, Co-founder Immigrant and International Women in STEM Caroline Bergeron, Coordonnatrice générale, Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Québec Karine Coen Sanchez, Doctoral Student, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa Ive Velkova, Science Communicator, and Member of 500 Queer Scientists	How to Start Your own SciComm Business Speakers: Lucas Kavanagh, Content Director and Founder, Avo Media Jess Lupini, Creative Director and Founder, Avo Media
12:00 - 1:00	Lunch (in the Event Hall only)	Lunch
1:00 - 1:30	Missed Opportunities and Untold Stories Speakers: Sandra Corbeil, Director, Strategic Partnerships and Networks, Ingenium Bryan Casey, Officer, Strategic Partnerships and Networks, Ingenium	Student Poster Competition
1:30 - 2:30	Museum Crawl	Student Poster Competition
2:30 - 3:00	Break	Break
3:00 - 3:15		Student Poster Competition Results Announced
3:15 - 4:15		Indigenous Knowledge, Science and Sustainability Speaker: Simon Brascoupé, is an Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg artist living in Algonquin territory (Ottawa) who has affiliations with the Museum of History, Carleton University and the University of Ottawa.
4:15 - 4:30		Wrap up

Science Tours - 7 & 8 June

In SWCC tradition, the Conference Committee are planning 2 days of tours of cool local science. Participation is optional and tour costs are not included in conference registration.

June 7: Museum Collections & Nature

Canada boasts an impressive network of national museums, and only a fraction of those collections are on display at any one time. This tour takes us behind the scenes and into the Ingenium Centre, located beside the Canadian Science and Technology Museum. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to protect and showcase Canada's national science and technology collection and then to the collection for the Museum of Nature. The tour wraps up with a guided walk through the National Capital Commission's Gatineau Park.

Participants of this tour must wear close-toed shoes and will be walking on uneven ground. This tour is unsuitable for anyone who requires a walking aid.

June 8: Government science is cool! This tour includes: Agriculture and AgriFood Canada Central Experimental Farm R&D Centre; the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum; and the Communications Research Centre.

Participants must present a valid, government issued photo ID to gain entry to some parts of the tour.

Address:

P.O. Box 75 Station A

Toronto, ON

M5W 1A2