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Discover books, blogs, podcasts, and websites to learn more about the science you love
  • Books
  • Online resources
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts
  • Websites
  • Oceans websites
  • Posters

Blogs

For those of you who don’t have the time to read a whole book (because you’re too busy attending Science Literacy Week events).

  • Nat Geo News – stories by National Geographic filled with fun, quirky and otherwise exciting science stories.
  • XKCD– I know, not really a blog. Still, it proves that science is as funny as it gets.
  • IFLS – An awful lot of people “really love” science.

Podcasts

  • AsapSCIENCE – Canadians Mitch Moffit and Greg Brown take you on a hilarious tour of the sciences on Youtube.
  • Science Friday– Ira Flatow’s hugely popular radio show. Check out the whole website for more content too.
  • Star Talk Radio – Neil DeGrasse Tyson rocks it with his late night DJ voice.
  • Quirks and Quarks – Our very own Bob McDonald giving the scoop on the latest science developments.
  • Stuff you should know – The title says it all!
  • The Body of Evidence – Medicine, Science and Debunking Quackery by Dr. Christopher Labos and Jonathan Jarry.
  • Radiolab – “weaving stories and science into sound and music rich documentaries”.
  • 60 second science – For those of you with literally a minute to spare, prepare to have your minds blown by Scientific American.
  • The Story Collider – Science surrounds us. Even when we don’t notice it, science touches almost every part of our lives. At the Story Collider, we believe that everyone has a story about science—a story about how science made a difference, affected them, or changed them on a personal and emotional level. We find those stories and share them in live shows and on our podcast. Sometimes, it’s even funny.
  • Best of the WWEST – A series of interviews with women in STEM about their careers, inspirations, daily lives, etc., in order to amplify their voices and provide role models for younger girls to look up to.

Websites

  • Let's Talk Science – Read articles, watch videos, search career profiles and "do STEM" with these fun, curriculum aligned resources and activities. We even have a special SPACE page to help you investigate all things space!
  • NOVA – Consistently excellent, engaging and interesting science stories from the cutting edge of discovery. Available on TV’s everywhere!
  • BBC Earth – Still the highest quality nature broadcaster out there, BBC Earth gives us unprecedented looks into the wide world of nature, many with the incomparable David Attenborough narrating too!
  • TED talks – Their slogan says it all, “Ideas Worth Spreading”. Learn about pretty much anything from some of the best thinkers and speakers anywhere.
  • Research2Reality – A Canadian celebration of the great research and scientists all across the country.
  • McGill Office for Science and Society – The McGill Office for Science and Society (OSS) is dedicated to the promotion of critical thinking and the presentation of scientific information to the public, educators and students in an accurate and responsible fashion.
  • Story Time From Space – Story Time From Space sends children’s books to the International Space Station. While in space, astronauts are videotaping themselves reading these books to the children of Earth.

Oceans

  • Canada C3 – Relive and learn more about this remarkable Canada 150 Expedition from coast to coast to coast around Canada bringing together amazing communities, artists, scientists and more on a journey of discovery!
  • Canadian Network for Ocean Education – Resources, online event portals, the latest news on oceans work in Canada and more.
  • Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition – New group bringing together ocean organizations from across Canada working towards collective action on ocean literacy.
  • Exploration Vessel Nautilus Live – a livestream of ongoing expeditions from one of the world’s elite research vessels plus a slew of great content from past trips.
  • Ocean School – Enriching and interactive ocean content bringing together elite film teams with scientists on expeditions around the globe.
  • Ocean Wise – Ocean Wise has the most robust only ocean education platform in Canada featuring games, activities and more!
  • Shoreline Cleanup – Organize a cleanup on any shoreline coast to coast today (rivers, lakes, ponds and more included!) and contribute to a global dataset seeking to understand more about what waste ends up in our seas.
  • Washed Ashore – Art to Save the Sea

Posters

These posters are courtesy of Microfiches, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC), who have joined forces for Science Literacy Week. This serie of poster is part of an illustrated encyclopedia project by Microfiches, an organization whose aim is to bridge the gap between the research community and the arts.

  • The deep ocean: home to some surprising species

    In the cold deep ocean waters, at depths of more than 1,000 metres, total darkness reigns. The pressure is enormous. These conditions, which at first might seem incompatible with life, are nonetheless home to a diversity of life forms. Coldwater coral reefs, bioluminescent fish, colossal squids and thousands of other species live in the extreme ocean depths. However, 95% of the vast deep ocean plains, underwater volcanoes, hydrothermal vents, and ocean ridges and trenches have yet to be explored.

    Download the poster

  • The blue economy: a balance between use and preservation

    With the longest coastline of any country in the world, half of which is in the Arctic, Canada benefits greatly from marine resources. Unfortunately, overfishing, ocean warming and pollution are threatening these resources. The development of a blue economy is aimed at sustainably harvesting the ocean’s resources so as to preserve food and create jobs for coastal inhabitants. The blue economy should use innovation for the common good. A number of emerging industries are contributing to a blue economy such as offshore wind technology, aquaculture and marine biotechnology.

    Download the poster

  • Sustainable fishing: life underwater

    Overfishing, unintentional bycatch and habitat destruction have caused marine animal populations to decline by two thirds in the last decade. It is important to harvest marine stocks sustainably: that means leaving enough in the ocean and respecting their habitats. This requires planning, research and monitoring, stricter fishing regulations and controls, evidence-based decision-making and management of environmental impacts. Initiatives to raise public awareness about local sustainable choices available in terms of purchasing seafood products, such as the Exploramer’s Smarter Seafood program, are also necessary.

    Download the poster

  • Ocean literacy: ensuring its sustainability

    The Earth has one large interconnected ocean. It shapes the continents, influences the climate and makes the Earth habitable. Canada’s marine biodiversity is remarkable, and the extent of ocean knowledge of its diverse coastal (and some inland) inhabitants is vast. Understanding the ocean’s impact on our lives and, in return, what impact we have on the ocean, is essential for its sustainability. Increasing public awareness promotes responsible behaviour and can enable informed actions towards the ocean and its resources.

    Download the poster

  • An ocean of plastic: from trash cans to our plates

    Every year, more than 8 million tonnes of plastic, which was discarded or unrecycled, ends up in the ocean. This plastic breaks down slowly into tiny pieces, from 5 millimeters to just a few microns in size, known as microplastics. They have now been found in every part of the global ocean as well as embedded in Arctic sea ice. Zooplankton at the bottom of the food chain ingest these microplastics, which are then found in the fish that we eat. Plastics in any form cause considerable damage to marine life: suffocation, strangulation, injury and death. They can also pose a threat to human health, to coastal livelihoods and tourism.

    Download the poster

  • Sea ice: adapting to change

    At the end of the summer, a deep freeze takes hold in the Arctic and cools the ocean. As the first ice crystallizes, it grows to form a sheet of floating sea ice. Sea ice is vital for marine life in the Arctic and for Inuit who rely on it for food, livelihoods, transportation and cultural sustenance. Sea ice also helps to maintain Arctic temperatures and regulate global climate. However, due to global warming, the Arctic sea ice is melting. It is becoming less reliable and more dangerous to travel on. Inuit have to adapt their hunting strategies and are at greater risk when travelling on the ice.

    Download the poster

 

Download all posters

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Science Literacy Week is a week-long celebration of science-based activities that highlight our outstanding scientists and science communicators from coast-to-coast.

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