Date and Time: 5:30(sharp) – 7:00pm on Friday, May 10
Session Type: Keynote
Moderator: Dr. Jennifer Gardy
Location: Room 1013, Earth Sciences Building
Speakers: Carin Bondar, Cameron Cronin, Bob McDonald
 Carin Bondar is a biologist with a PhD in population ecology from the University of British Columbia. She is an online writer, host and producer with Scientific American, Science Alert and Earth Touch Productions, and a television presenter for Discovery International and National Geographic Wild. Her independent web series ‘Wild Sex’ (on the unique world of the evolution of sexual behavior) has amassed over 5 million views in its first four months online. Dr. Bondar is currently in French Polynesia shooting a series on the biology and ecology of the Tahitian islands. She will next appear as a speaker at TED Global in Edinburgh, Scotland in June 2013. |
 He’s not a scientist, but he’s played one on TV. Cam started out in the field of space science in a rather unorthodox way; by auditioning for it. As a graduate of UBC in Theatre (Acting), he answered an audition request from the HR MacMillan Space Centre for a new space show that they were developing. That was 1996. Since landing that job, Cam has been working at the Space Centre in different capacities from a writer, producer, programmer, and spokesperson to a hands-on science facilitator. He has helped produce dozens of science programs, collaborated with almost all of the Canadian astronauts and helped bring special events like Iron Science Teacher, and Yuri’s Night to Vancouver. He has worked extensively with the Canadian Space Agency, NASA, SETI, and many Science and Planetariums across Canada and the United States. Cam also developed a Skype program to allow space science to reach into geographically remote communities throughout BC and across Canada. His role in these adventures is to take complex, scientific data and make it understandable, engaging and most of all accessible to everyone. |
 One of Canada’s best known science journalists, Bob is a regular science commentator on CBC News Network, and science correspondent for CBC TV’s The National. Bob was the host of CBC’s children’s science program Wonderstruck and TVO’s children TV science series Heads Up! He is currently the host of Quirks & Quarks.Bob has been personally honoured for his contributions to the public awareness of science: 2001 Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion from NSERC, the 2002 Sandford Fleming Medal from The Royal Canadian Institute, 2005 McNeil Medal for the Public Awareness of Science from the Royal Society of Canada, completing the ‘triple crown’ of medals for science communication in Canada. In 2010, Bob was named as an honorary life member of the Sigma Xi Society, the first Canadian to be so honoured by America’s oldest scientific body. In November, 2011, Bob was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Bob McDonald has been awarded 6 honorary degrees – the most recent being an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Calgary and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Winnipeg – both awarded in June, 2010. Previously, Bob was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science from McMaster University in June, 2008 and a Doctorate of Letters from Laurentian University in Sudbury in October, 2007 |
