FFWD REW

Innovation springs eternal

Calgary is full of incredible innovators and Telus Spark wants you to meet some of them.

That’s the idea behind its Meet an Innovator series a program that brings local problem-solvers into the science centre to showcase their approaches and discoveries. These innovators aren’t necessarily scientists (although there are plenty of those). Since its launch in September 2013 the series has featured artists Jeff de Boer and Eveline Kolijn the Calgary Fire Department and mobile concert venue BassBus.

Jessica Knights public programmer at Telus Spark says its in-house definition of innovator is “a curious person or group who is out in the community and creatively solving a problem.”

“When we use the term ‘problem’ sometimes we think that it’s an issue somewhere that needs to be resolved but sometimes it’s just finding a gap somewhere in the field and trying to fill that gap” she says.

As an example she points to last June’s innovator professor Hector De la Hoz Siegler who researches microalgae (or pond scum) as a potential biofuel. And while it isn’t running our cars (yet) his work is opening up new possibilities for the future.

The format of the event varies based on the person or group featured but in most cases the innovator is on site from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and there’s always a Q&A portion as well as a hands-on component whenever possible. “The hands-on programming can be anything but we’ll tailor it to how we know our visitors respond to programming and relate it to the content of our innovators.”

The most recent Meet an Innovator event on November 29 featured Baran Faber owner and operator of BassBus who explored the connections between art technology and transportation and helped visitors build LED-studded model busses. “[Visitors] will leave with a little bit more knowledge about something that our innovator does…. Hopefully they leave a bit inspired that Calgarians… are doing these incredible things and the possibility for them to be an innovator is always there” says Knights.

Next up is Susan R. Eaton founder and leader of the 2014-16 Sedna Epic Expedition who’ll be on site on December 27. Named after the Inuit goddess of marine mammals Sedna will study oceanic change and its impact on surrounding communities through a 100-day snorkel relay of the Northwest Passage. For the Meet an Innovator event Eaton will be bringing in some of her high-tech diving and snorkelling gear.

Eaton’s work isn’t just about braving sub-zero seas; her 10-woman team of explorers will also be reaching out to Inuit and Inuvialuit women and girls to share knowledge about combating climate change in their communities.

Knights says not every Meet an Innovator program ties into greater societal issues but Telus Spark will support those dimensions of the work when applicable.

“Susan Eaton is a great example of someone who can educate not only the people from Calgary but also the people in the communities that she goes around to about these large-scale issues like climate and the effect of the environment” she says.

Meet an Innovator is dedicated to its local focus and it doesn’t seem like innovation is in danger of running dry in Calgary anytime soon.

“I always try to tie it back to the fact that Calgary has an incredible pioneer spirit starting from when we settled here” says Knights. “I think that spirit has remained in Calgary which is why there are so many innovators and so many people in our community that are doing really impressive things.”

Meet an Innovator is usually held on the last Saturday of the month and is included with admission to Telus Spark.

Meet an Innovator with Susan R. Eaton runs December 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Telus Spark.

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