In Photos: Science FUNday 2023

15 March 2023

Science FUNday returned in-person for the first time since 2020 on March 11, 2023, welcoming nearly 2,500 parents and children to campus to explore the wonders of science. Families were treated to more than 75 science demonstrations, presentations and tours at the sold-out event, led by the Science FUNdamentals student group and hosted in the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science with support from the Faculty of Science and University of Alberta Alumni Association.

For the vast majority of the student group executives and volunteers, this was their first in-person Science FUNday, which made the success of the family event all the more exciting. The past two years have included virtual presentations, livestreams and at-home experiments, but this year families were once again able to attend in-person to view demonstrations and take tours of the exceptional museums, collections and labs located at the U of A. A team of U of A Alumni event specialists helped support the event, including arranging free coffee, drinks and even popcorn for attendees to enhance the festivities.

Photos by Jasleen Kaur and Callum Todrick.

A group photo of the Science FUNday student volunteers. This vast group of undergraduate students spent the day sharing the wonders of science with families visiting the U of A campus, as well as assisting with full set up and take down of the event.

A group photo of the Science FUNday student volunteers. This vast group of undergraduate students spent the day sharing the wonders of science with families visiting the U of A campus, as well as assisting with full set up and take down of the event.

Science FUNdamentals vice-president Dania Al-Rimawi, president Bushra Anjum, and FUNday director Sonika Khurana (left to right) take a photo with Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, and Frederick West, dean of the Faculty of Science.

Science FUNdamentals vice-president Dania Al-Rimawi, president Bushra Anjum, and FUNday director Sonika Khurana (left to right) take a photo with Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, and Frederick West, dean of the Faculty of Science.

A FUNday volunteer demonstrates bubbles forming from dry ice to an attentive crowd of children.

A FUNday volunteer demonstrates bubbles forming from dry ice to an attentive crowd of children.

Tours of the U of A’s excellent facilities are a key part of FUNday activities and a crowd favourite, being fully booked by noon. Here, a student volunteer leads a group on a tour to the U of A Observatory.

Tours of the U of A’s excellent facilities are a key part of FUNday activities and a crowd favourite, being fully booked by noon. Here, a student volunteer leads a group on a tour to the U of A Observatory.

Jackie Perich, Science FUNdamentals demo director, speaks with media from CBC French to share the excitement of the day with the wider community.Jackie Perich, Science FUNdamentals demo director, speaks with media from CBC French to share the excitement of the day with the wider community.

Student volunteers including a Science FUNday executive lead a demo isolating strawberry DNA for a group of engaged students.Student volunteers including a Science FUNday executive lead a demo isolating strawberry DNA for a group of engaged students.

FUNday volunteers lead a demonstration (at a safe distance) illustrating how ions burn different colours.FUNday volunteers lead a demonstration (at a safe distance) illustrating how ions burn different colours.

A group of students are led by a FUNday volunteer in a biology activity, pinning organs on a silhouette of a body to better understand the inner workings of the human body.A group of students are led by a FUNday volunteer in a biology activity, pinning organs on a silhouette of a body to better understand the inner workings of the human body.