ASTRA presents Bob McDonald

Monday October 1, 2012 at 7pm

Science Complex Atrium

Free Admission - Everyone is welcome - Free parking in P31 after 5pm

Art and science have both attempted to describe nature since our ancestors drew on cave walls. Science often deals with abstract subjects such as black holes, the inner workings of the atom, life before humans or topics that are not visible directly. The artist brings these subjects to life, providing perspective with beautiful results. 

Bob McDonald has been communicating science internationally through television, radio, print and live presentations for more than 30 years.  He is the host of CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks, the award-winning science program with a national audience of nearly 500,000 people.  He is also a regular reporter for CBC Televisions's The National as well as Gemini winning host and writer of the children's series Head's Up.  McDonald has also hosted Greatest Canadian Invention and the seven-part series Water Under Fire.

As a print journalist, McDonald has authored three science books and contributed to numerous science textbooks, newspapers and magazines including The Globe and Mail, Owl Magazine and many others.  His latest book is Measuring the Earth With a Stick, and he has written the introductions to The Quirks & Quarks Question Book, The Guide to Space: 42 Questions (and Answers) About Life, the Universe, and Everything as well as Nasty, Brutish and Short, the Quirks Guide to Animal Sex.

Beyond his work in media, McDonald is Chairman of Geospace, an exciting new environmental centre and planetarium for the Toronto Waterfront.

McDonald has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of science in Canada as the recipient of the Michael Smith Award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Sir Sanford Fleming Medal from the Royal Canadian Institute and the McNeil Medal from The Royal Society of Canada.  McDonald was also the recipient of a 2008 Gemini Award for Best Host in a Pre-School, Children's or Youth Program Series.

He has received six honourary Doctorates, from the University of Guelph, Carleton University, Laurentian, McMaster, University of Winnipeg and University of Calgary.  In 2011, he was appointed to the Order of Canada.

McDonald is constantly in demand to speak for a variety of audiences in Canada.