The Eurêka festival, which celebrates science and technology, is taking place this weekend at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal. Young people are invited to come and enjoy a host of free outdoor activities under the theme: “water in all its states”.
For the 15th year of the festival, people can start participating in the live activities again after the event was canceled in 2020 and presented virtually in 2021.
The theme of water aims to encourage festival-goers to think about ways to conserve this natural resource and to discover innovative technologies related to the field of water.
Festival organizer Marianne Groulx stresses that this is not a science fair. The various kiosks offer “very interactive” activities, which are fairly short in duration to allow young people to try out different things.
“Eureka allows science to be experienced in a festive setting and to show that science is fun. We hope to ignite a lot of sparks […] and ensure that these young people who come, observe, test and put their hands in science, choose careers in science or technology in the future,” said Ms. Groulx.
This weekend’s event is made up of shows, scientific demonstrations and various fun activities that take place at the foot of the Biosphere and also inside.
School-aged children are the festival’s target clientele, but Marianne Groulx hopes to attract teenagers as well.
“Until the age of about 12, young people are very curious about everything related to science and technology. There is a great curiosity to learn, to understand, to see and to test. This curiosity falls on teenagers and it’s something we want to work on with teenagers,” explains Ms. Groulx.
However, she believes that the pandemic has had a positive role in the general public’s interest in science. “We all realized very quickly that without science, we wouldn’t get very far. The interest of citizens in general has been aroused by what we have just experienced,” maintains Ms. Groulx.
She indicates that an effort is also made to attract young girls since few of them choose to pursue a career in scientific fields. “We work hard with different partners to get girls interested in science and technology,” says the organizer.
Programming
Different themed areas criss-cross Île Sainte-Hélène, such as technology, energy, biology or nature. Families can therefore participate in the “small thematic villages” that interest them the most. Ms. Groulx expects to welcome at least 50,000 visitors this year.
Festival favourites, entomologist Bill Bestiole, the Atomic Neurones team and chemist Yannick Bergeron, will perform with their scientific prowess.
The first Quebecer to have completed a crewed round-the-world race, Simon DuBois, will share his experience with the public. Additionally, Bishop’s University will be demonstrating with an aquatic drone that maps lakes and helps prevent pollution of waterways.
Participants will also have the opportunity to generate hydroelectricity, pilot a surfer avatar through a school of sharks using artificial intelligence or explore the cultural heritage buried in the depths of the St. Lawrence.
In addition, a virtual component is now part of the festival and is available year-round on the festivaleureka.ca website. In the form of a game, we find the island with thematic areas like at the festival and young people can explore them by accumulating points by taking part in quizzes.
Saturday evening, at 8 p.m., the festival’s spokesperson, who is also the host of the Génial program broadcast on Télé-Québec, Stéphane Bellavance, will offer a unique version of the Génial quiz in the company of his scientific sidekick, Martin Carli.
The Eureka festival continues until Sunday evening. Activities will take place even in the event of rain. Festival-goers are invited to come to Parc Jean-Drapeau by metro, as the Jacques-Cartier Bridge will be closed to automobile traffic for the Gran Défi Pierre Lavoie.