U21 Educational Innovation Symposium Tour Information
Expandable List
We are pleased to arrange guided tours for U21 delegates of some of McMaster University’s most important facilities. Please select up to 2 tours each day. See sign-up forms below.
McMaster Campus Tour
Times available:
Tuesday June 27 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm OR 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Friday June 30 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm OR 3:00pm – 4:00pm
This walking guided tour will familiarize you with the McMaster University campus, including some historical buildings and features, as well as our major faculty buildings, facilities and other sites of interest.
McMaster Museum of Art
https://museum.mcmaster.ca/
Times available:
Tuesday June 27 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm OR 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Friday June 30 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm OR 3:00pm – 4:00pm
The McMaster Museum of Art houses McMaster University’s permanent collection of more than 6000 objects that encompass the history of art from the late 15th to the 21st century, and coins and antiquities from Mediterranean cultures and China. The MMA is recognized internationally for its specialist collection of early twentieth-century German prints and outstanding European paintings, drawings and prints, including a donation by Hamilton businessman Dr. Herman Herzog Levy O.B.E. of his own private collection.
There are also significant holdings of Indigenous, Inuit, and Canadian art, especially since c.1960. Collection development reflects the MMA’s current strategic plan with an emphasis on decolonial work and diversification.
Note: the museum is open for public visits Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11:00am – 5:00pm and Thursday 11:00am – 7:00pm.
Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy
https://ccem.mcmaster.ca/
Times available:
Tuesday June 27 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Friday June 30 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm
The Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM) is located at McMaster University and was opened in 2004. Since 2014, CCEM is funded by the Major Science Initiatives (MSI) program as one of 17 national research facilities in Canada. CCEM houses best-in-class electron and ion microscopes; a team of 13 full-time professional expert staff operate the facility, perform microscopy services, and train users. CCEM has a diverse, national user base of more than 500 users annually. The research published by CCEM users has steadily grown to more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles annually. CCEM serves users from academia and industry, from all over Canada and internationally. The research projects range from biology to chemistry, geology, and engineering.
CCEM features a state-of-the-art suite of instrumentation and experienced, dedicated staff capable of getting the best out of each instrument. Our goal is to enable our users and partners to solve tomorrow’s material problems for a brighter world.
McMaster Nuclear Reactor
https://nuclear.mcmaster.ca/facilities-equipment/facility-list/mcmaster-nuclear-reactor/
Times available:
Friday June 30 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm
The McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR) first became operational in 1959 and was the first university-based research reactor in the British Commonwealth. It was designed with its end use as a multi-purpose research facility in mind. Its open-pool design provides ready access to the reactor core and allows for easy insertion and removal of samples for neutron irradiation, imparting a degree of flexibility that many other classes of reactors lack. As well, several beam-tubes were built into the reactor structure: today, the neutron beams extracted by these tubes are used for applications including neutron radiography and neutron diffraction experiments. MNR also has an industrial hot cell inside the reactor containment building for handling highly radioactive samples.
Staff at the McMaster Nuclear Reactor conduct hundreds of thousands of neutron irradiations every year, many in support of industry (mining exploration, environmental samples). MNR is a world leader in the production of iodine-125, a radioactive isotope that is used in the treatment of prostate cancer, with hundreds of doses produced each week. Neutrons from MNR are also used by Nray Services Inc. to conduct quality assurance testing on turbine blades for jet engines using the neutron radiography facility at one of the beam-ports. Research activities at MNR continue to expand, with a new neutron diffractometer installed in 2009 and a state of the art positron beam facility currently being designed.
McMaster Nuclear Reactor is also involved in public outreach activities, providing opportunities for McMaster students and members of the public to participate in guided tours of the reactor facility. More than 1,500 visitors each year visit MNR to lean about nuclear sciences and observe “the blue glow” of the reactor core first-hand.
Please note tours are subject to the following conditions:
Each participant must present government-issued identification (driver’s license, photo health card, passport, etc.) prior to embarking on the tour and fill out the visitor information card available here: Reactor Visitor Information Card. These cards will also be available at the U21 2023 EIS Registration Desk.
All participants must wear closed-toe low-heeled shoes and long pants (no sandals, high-heeled shoes, shorts or skirts).
Participants’ cellphones, cameras, backpacks etc. must be left in the reception office. Furthermore, MNR reserves the right to refuse admission at our discretion.
W.J. McCallion Planetarium
https://planetarium.physics.mcmaster.ca/
Times available:
Tuesday June 27 | 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Wednesday June 29 | 4:15pm – 5:15pm
The William J. McCallion Planetarium was the first planetarium in Ontario that offered shows to the public. The original projector was purchased in 1949 from money raised through public subscriptions and donations from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Hamilton Centre. In the early days, a war-surplus parachute was suspended from the ceiling and used as the planetarium dome. In 1954, the original projector found more permanent accommodation in a custom-designed room in what is now called the Burke Science Building. The first projector was donated to Mount Allison University and replaced with a Spitz model A2 projector in 1961. In 1992, the Ontario Science Centre, in cooperation with the London Children’s Museum, donated a more modern and sophisticated Spitz A3P projector to McMaster. In 2008, the newly-refurbished planetarium re-opened with a Digitarium Alpha 2 system – the first digital projector housed in the McCallion Planetarium.
Shows begin with a general introduction to the night sky, including famous Greco-Roman constellations and apparent motions of celestial objects, followed by an in-depth presentation on the particular theme of the public show. All shows are live and interactive, so you can ask a question at any time during the presentation.
Submit a registration form for Thursday June 29th and Friday June 30th options.
Niagara Falls Tours
Advanced registration required, space limited. If you are interested in registering for this tour (and have not already) or, have any questions, please contact Tania Hakim (hakimt@mcmaster.ca) and Paul Leegsma (leegsmp@mcmaster.ca) for information.
Shuttle Bus will bring participants directly to the Falls from McMaster Campus. Activities are self-guided. All recommended attractions ware within a 15-minute walk of dropoff/pickup area.
Recommended Attractions:
The Falls!
Walk along the Fallsview Trail directly overlooking the Niagara River Gorge, the US and Canada Falls. An incredibly scenic 20 – 40 minute (regular – leisurely pace) walk from the bottom Clifton Hill to the Table Rock Welcome Centre.
Niagara City Cruises
https://www.cityexperiences.com/niagara-ca/city-cruises/niagara/
Falls Boat Tours is 20 thrilling minutes that will take you close to the Falls at river level. Parkas provided! Boats depart every 15 minutes, expect some queuing time during peak hours (- but entirely worth a short wait!)
Entry from Niagara City Cruises Main Ticket Plaza (look for large white sails next to the Zipline to Falls Tower, near the foot of Clifton Hill).
Advanced booking recommended (CAD$33/person), but can be bought upon arrival.
Journey Behind the Falls
https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit/attractions/journey-behind-the-falls/
Take a journey deep below and behind the heart of Niagara, and stand in the mist where the mighty Horseshoe Falls tumbles from 13 storeys above! You’ll experience the awesome spectacle of one-fifth of the world’s freshwater crashing down to the basin below.
Entry from the Table Rock Welcome Centre.
Cost is CAD$24/person. Can be booked in advance or upon arrival.
Clifton Hill
Clifton Hill is the central tourist street of Niagara Falls, a short 300m uphill walk. Highly recommended if you’re looking for somewhere to have a meal or drink, people-watch, or find a souvenir!
Hiking and Walking Trails
Hamilton and the adjacent town of Dundas are packed with superb hiking and walking trails established along the remarkable geographic features which define the area, the Niagara Escarpment, Cootes Paradise, Hamilton Harbour and Dundas Valley. The escarpment which wraps around Hamilton is the same geological formation which creates Niagara Falls and winds north through Ontario culminating in the Bruce Peninsula. Because of this Hamilton is known as the City of Waterfalls with many dozens of waterfalls within a short drive from McMaster campus.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Canada’s largest botanical garden include: the world’s largest lilac collection, 100,000 spring bulbs, 3000 rose bushes, endless trails and the recently restored Rock Garden, a stunning and tranquil National Historic Site. The sprawling land trust of the Royal Botanical Gardens runs along the north boundary of McMaster campus providing direct access to many walking trails.
Dundurn Castle
Experience a guided tour of this 40-room Italianate-style villa built in the 1830’s on Burlington Heights; the former site of a fortified military encampment established by the British during the War of 1812. The surrounding parkland provides a scenic walk with a view of Cootes Paradise, Hamilton Harbour and the city of Hamilton.
