Future students

2023 Ancaster Gem, Mineral, Bead & Jewellery Show

Crystal Czarniecki — Wed, 03 May 2023 19:17:12 +0000

2023 Ancaster Gem, Mineral, Bead & Jewellery Show Crystal Czarniecki Wed, 2023-05-03 - 15:17

The Earth Sciences Museum will be hosting kids activities at the Ancaster Gem, Mineral, Bead & Jewellery Show!

The show is running on Saturday, September 30th to Sunday, October 1st at the Ancaster Fairgrounds.

A variety of vendors will be selling rocks, minerals, fossils, beads and handcrafted jewellry. Interactive educational activities for kids will be hosted by the Earth Sciences Museum.

Free parking, food court available, and wheelchair accessible

Hours

Saturday 10:00-5:00

Sunday 10:00- 5:00

Cost

Day Pass $8.00, Two Day Pass $14.00, Kids Under 12 Free Admission

Wally & Deanna are Online!

Corina McDonald — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 01:47:07 +0000

Wally & Deanna are Online! Corina McDonald Wed, 2020-06-17 - 21:47

Our children's book, Wally & Deanna's Groundwater Adventure, is now online through The Groundwater Project. In addition to this wonderful book explaining groundwater to children of all ages there is also an interview of the books author's and illustrator - Peter Russell, Leanne Appleby and Fortunato Restagno, respectively. See the interview below by UW alumni Everton de Oliveira!

View "" on YouTube

New campus pianos aim to open hearts and minds

Victoria Van Cappellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 14:40:44 +0000

New campus pianos aim to open hearts and minds Victoria Van C… Thu, 2018-09-06 - 10:40

View "Open Piano Program at the University of Waterloo" on YouTube

Music is in the air at Waterloo thanks to two new outdoor pianos in front of the Dana Porter Library and the Peter Russell Rock Garden. The pianos appeared thanks to the efforts of Max Salman, a PhD student in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the Faculty of Science.

“We’ve got a lot of talent here and it’s been wonderful to see it showcased,” says Salman. “People aren’t just playing the piano, but passersby are slowing down to enjoy the atmosphere. The response has been amazing.”

Salman was inspired by the Play Me I’m Yours exhibit by British artist Luke Jerram who has installed more than 1900 colorful street pianos worldwide, including Toronto.

“On campus, I often hear someone playing the piano in the QNC basement, in the morning. It’s beautiful and I thought if people saw more pianos out in the open, they could feel inspired to play anytime - at lunchtime or between classes,” says Salman.

Waterloo students may not be not known for their musical talent, but ninety-three per cent of STEM graduates report musical training at some point in their lives, according to a study by Michigan State University.

Salman, who himself plays improv jazz, says playing the piano offers him the opportunity to relax and to calm his mind from his busy schedule and intense research.

Salman has also been hearing a lot about the issue of mental health from his fellow students and the university administration through his roles in student government, formerly as the Vice-President of the Graduate Student Association and currently as a Grad Senator on the University of Waterloo's Senate. Students have told him they would appreciate a greater sense of community on campus.

“Music connects people powerfully and is a well-known strategy for improving mental health,” says Salman. “Anybody who may not be able to express themselves in words can do so musically in a way that brings people on campus together.”

Salman has been amazed by the number of students who are pleased with this project and wish to see it continue in the future and develop into a campus-wide initiative. In addition to the positive response from students, faculty and staff have also expressed their support for this initiative.

“I mentioned the idea to a senior member of the administration and the next thing I know I get a phone call from UW Central Stores. They were eager to provide their assistance to pick up the piano from the donor’s home and install it within a couple of days. I’m grateful for the amount of care and attention they’ve shown for this initiative. And they continue to recognize and commit to fostering and strengthening a culture of wellness on campus.”

In addition to finding the donor and organizing the move, Salman has also recruited a piano tuner to maintain the pianos. Even after four weeks with just a tarp for protection from the weather, the Dana Porter piano still plays well.

“I’m hoping the UW community will get more involved in the project as time goes on. There are all kinds of opportunities for performing and bringing in artists, musicians, bands to play at these ideal venues.”

For now though, Salman is working to bring more pianos to the open spaces on UW’s campus.

“Music is an easy way to find peace, to communicate, to make new friends and to build community,” says Salman. “These pianos are open to everyone to play. I encourage anyone who wants to take advantage of this musical opportunity to uncover the piano and to share with the community your artistic talent.”

The Dana Porter piano, which arrived July 20^th, was donated by Earth Science alumnus Peter van Driel (MSc Earth Sciences ‘02). The second piano was donated by a Waterloo resident. Salman would also like to thank Tony Bairos and his team at Central Stores, as well as Dennis Huber, Vice-President of Administration & Finance.

Jane's Walk: Rock Around Waterloo

Quinn Noel Worthington — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 20:18:30 +0000

Jane's Walk: Rock Around Waterloo Quinn Noel Wor… Fri, 2018-04-06 - 16:18

Explore Earth Science in the Waterloo region on this 1.5 hour walk. We will see building stones, fossils, erratics and more. Dress for the weather, and wear your walking shoes!

Find out more at www.janeswalk.org/canada/waterloo-on/

Jane's Walk: Rock Around Waterloo

Quinn Noel Worthington — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 20:14:16 +0000

Jane's Walk: Rock Around Waterloo Quinn Noel Wor… Fri, 2018-04-06 - 16:14

Explore Earth Science in the Waterloo region on this 1.5 hour walk. We will see building stones, fossils, erratics and more. Dress for the weather, and wear your walking shoes!

Find out more at www.janeswalk.org/canada/waterloo-on/

Earth Sciences Museum 50th Celebration Family Day

Victoria Van Cappellen — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:32:29 +0000

Earth Sciences Museum 50th Celebration Family Day Victoria Van C… Mon, 2017-04-24 - 10:32

Get ready to celebrate the Earth Sciences Museum's 50^th birthday!

Bring a picnic lunch for your family, enjoy free kids activities, and celebrate with us in the beautiful Peter Russell Rock Garden.

Activities will include Gold Panning, Fossil Fish, Fossil Snowflakes, Minerals in Materials.

Learn more about our indoor and outdoor exhibits with a Rock Garden Tour at 11:30 and a Museum Tour at 1:00.

Ontario Ground Water Association honours Peter Russell for years of service

Katharine Tuerke — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 18:17:22 +0000

Ontario Ground Water Association honours Peter Russell for years of service Katharine Tuerke Mon, 2017-04-17 - 14:17

WSC Consultant Bill Clarke (BSc Earth Sciences '76; MSc '81) presents Peter Russell with his award.

On Saturday, the Earth Sciences Museum Curator Emeritus Peter Russell was recognized for his commitment to ground water. The Ontario Ground Water Association presented Russell with the Earth, Wind, Fire & Water Award.

Russell has been an integral member of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. He founded the Earth Sciences Museum in 1967 as part of a Canada centennial project and was the curator for 47 years.

He also wrote the children's book, Wally & Deanna's Groundwater Adventure, which teaches children about groundwater hydrology. In the book, Wally the earthworm learns about the water cycle from Deanna the water droplet.

The book also touches on topics such as the aquifer, water table, saturated zone and evaporation, as well as how water moves slowly through the pores in soils and rocks.

Copies of the book has been reprinted for the 50th anniversary of the Earth Sciences Museum.

Russell has also been a long-time volunteer with the annual Waterloo Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival. The five day festival teaches children from grades 2 through to 5 about the importance of water conservation, protection, technology and ecology. Through the Earth Sciences Museum, Russell and Waterloo Science student volunteers provide hands-on water-related educational activities at the festival. He also received a 2015 Volunteer Service Award from the Ontario Government for his 20 years of volunteer work with the Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival.

The Earth, Wind, Fire & Water Award is presented annually to a group or individual who has demonstrated their commitment to and excellence in protecting the quality and use of one of our earth’s most precious commodities – ground water.

Russell received a framed certificate of the award at the Ontario Ground Water Association President’s Banquet at the Nottawasaga Inn Convention Centre & Golf Resort. His name will be added to the list of former recipients by the original stained glass award that hangs in the college.

The Ontario Ground Water Association was established in 1952 as a not-for-profit organization to facilitate various sectors of the ground water industry to come together to deliver safe, clean water supplies throughout the province. The Association is dedicated to protecting and promoting Ontario's ground water.

University of Waterloo 2017 Gem and Mineral Show

Alina Bielak — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 13:49:16 +0000

University of Waterloo 2017 Gem and Mineral Show Alina Bielak Mon, 2017-03-20 - 09:49

Visit the University of Waterloo Earth Sciences Museum for our annual Gem and Mineral Show and Science Open House!

Friday October 27th: 12 noon - 6 p.m.

Saturday October 28th: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Congratulations to Lincoln and his family on winning the door prize: a spectacular Quartz Geode from Alnif, Morocco!

Peninsula Bruce Trail Club’s 13th Annual Hike Festival

Stephanie Anne Kobylinski — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 13:54:23 +0000

Peninsula Bruce Trail Club’s 13th Annual Hike Festival Stephanie Anne… Mon, 2016-09-26 - 09:54

This year, the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club’s 13th Annual Hike Festival will feature hikes around the Bruce Trial in Tobermory and a variety of seminars, including a talk by Peter Russell. The Earth Sciences Museum is showing two displays at this event; vibrantly coloured mineral samples, and Burgess Shale fossils.

Peter Russell's talk Hiking the Red Rocks of Arizona will be at 7pm on September 30th, and our mineral displays will be available to view Friday though Saturday at the National Parks Visitors Centre in Tobermory.

Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival

Laura Scaife — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 19:24:27 +0000

Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival Laura Scaife Thu, 2016-09-22 - 15:24

The Earth Sciences Museum hosted interactive educational activities at the Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival this summer. Approximately 5000 students participated in the five day festival that held a variety of activities to education children about the importance of water conservation, protection, technology, and ecology.

The Earth Sciences Museum thanks all the volunteers from the University of Waterloo who helped run the Museum's activities. Collectively, they contributed approximately 300 volunteer hours.