#MORPH2018 Workshops

Click the + button to the right of each workshop title to view the description.
1. Zombie Apocalypse
​Workshop Description:
The city is has become over run with zombies! Firefighters, police officers, civilians and even celebrities have worked together and managed to contain them in a fenced area in the middle of the city. But the fence won’t hold up long and if they aren’t transferred outside the city ASAP, it could spell the end for humanity. You are the team of engineers that have been called in to design a device that will safely transfer the zombies from the fenced zone to an area outside of the city for disposal, without touching the infected area.
Hosted by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
2. The Future of food
​Workshop Description:
This workshop will discuss how technology will impact the future of how we produce food. By the end of the workshop, students will have a deep understanding of the global food crisis, why this is an important global issue, and immediate solutions (new technologies) we can start to apply to address this crisis. The goal of this session is to inspire students to look further into these technologies and play a part in eventually solving this issue. This workshop will be led by Nadeem Nathoo, Co-Founder of The Knowledge Society. He has also advised CEOs from top companies around the world to help solve their most important challenges.
Hosted by The Knowledge Society
3. Design a laser security system with mirrors
​Workshop Description:
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is looking for a new security system to protect their four (4) new diamond exhibits. The security system will consist of a laser beam that is reflected off several mirrors in the gallery rooms, creating a network of laser beams surrounding the diamond exhibits. And YOU are selected to be the Designer! You will use a laser beam to block a burglar’s entry from any of the doors or windows of the exhibition room, and it must adequately surround each diamond exhibit. Finally, it must hit the sensor which can be placed on any wall of the room.
Hosted by the Physics Department at John Polanyi Collegiate Institute
4. imagining a world where kim kardashian loves math
Workshop Description:
So first of all, this workshop isn’t actually about Kim K. It’s about the fact that even though girls are doing just as well as boys in math and science, only a very small percentage of them choose STEM related post-secondary programs. It’s about the fact that these amazing young women still profess in large numbers to be bad at math. It’s about the fact that we’re being told what we can and can’t be by a force so powerful that it convinces us to buy into it. It’s about our best friend and our worst enemy: the media. Through discussion and analysis, we will discuss what we can do to combat media messaging and change the STEM landscape in order to encourage diversity, re-shape stereotypes and create a world where the Kim Kardashians of the world no longer define what it means to be an empowered woman. ​
​Hosted by The Math Guru
5. Fun with Snap circuits
Workshop Description:
In this hands on workshop, you get to play (and learn) about what makes up circuits and how to build circuits. See lights turn on and fans spin or make music play. After a short introduction by the IBM STEM 4 Girls team, you will have most of the session to have self directed fun and success (there is a lot of celebrating done in this session). You will work in pairs for the duration of the workshop.
​Hosted by IBM Canada STEM 4 GIRLS
6. What is Cancer?
Workshop Description:
Cancer can start in any cell in the body. The cell starts out normal, but then changes due to damage in our genes. These changes are called mutations. Mutations happen in our genes due to many different cancer risk factors. Cancer scientists study how abnormal changes in our genes can influence our health and increase the risk of cancer. In this activity you will be a cancer scientist and learn how to identify cancer risks, recognize cancer cells using microscope and spot a cancer mutation using DNA sequences. To top it all off, you will isolate your own DNA and take it home in an amulet necklace!​
​Hosted by Dr. Nikolina Radulovich, Cancer Scientist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
7. Alternative [science] facts
Workshop Description:
This workshop will take a look at why communicating science is important for both scientists and the public. We will explore careers in science communication and take students through activities with current media (shared social media images, news articles, etc.) with stories which stretch or mis-interpret science stories.
​Hosted by ScicommTO
8. How's your stream doing? Assessing Water Quality of Your Local Rivers
Workshop Description:
Understanding how polluted or healthy your neighbourhood creeks are, is easier than you think.  All you have to do is ask the benthic invertebrates (small bugs and animals who live in the muck) how they're doing.  Find out how to do this and walk away with a new skill that can be used in any stream across Canada!
Hosted by EcoSpark
9. Help, i'm about to break my snap streak... help me fix my phone
Workshop Description:
Have you ever got so close to breaking your Snap Streak? Maybe you are running out of battery to share the perfect picture on Instagram! How can you download that many episodes of Stranger Things all at once from Netflix? Join us to learn how to make your own cell phone, how to save your phone after dropping it in water, and all about what is in your phone!
​Hosted by the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University
10. PITCH BLACK
Workshop Description:
Have you ever experienced a blackout? Do you remember the one we had over the holidays a few years ago? The city is currently experiencing a blackout, and you are the team of engineers that have been called in to restore power to the community. You will work in teams to build a replica of the city on an electric circuit board, and use your knowledge and creativity to figure out how to get the power back on! This fun hands-on activity will allow students to use their problem solving skills, and introduce them to the creative world of engineering.
Hosted by the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science at Ryerson University 
11. Bubble Science
Workshop Description:
Students get to blow bubbles into different concentrations of solutions to investigate how the concentration affects the stability of the bubbles. While some students blow bubbles, others will time how long it takes for the last bubble to pop. Each student will have a chance to blow bubbles and to time them. Students will be learning about the forces applied along the surface of the bubbles and reasons for the bubbles to pop.
Hosted by the Faculty of Science at Ryerson University 
12. Introduction to design thinking
Workshop Description:
This is a session to be creative, innovative while having fun! If you like post it notes and markers, this hands on Design Thinking workshop is for you. Join members of the IBM STEM 4 Girls team to learn about designing for users and how to create an empathy map. There will be independent work as well as group activities.
Hosted by IBM Canada STEM 4 Girls
13. The MARSHMALLOW challenge 
Workshop Description:
The task is simple: in 20 minutes, teams must build the tallest free-standing structure out of 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string, and one marshmallow. The marshmallow needs to be on top.
Surprising lessons emerge when you compare teams’ performance. Who tends to do the worst? Why? Who tends to do the best? Why? What improves performance? What kills it?
Hosted by hEr VOLUTION
14. Robots Rule!
Workshop Description:
Learn how fun and easy it is to program your own robot and find out about some of ways in which robots are being used in the real-world to help people and the environment.
Hosted by Toronto District School Board  
15. Neurobiology
Workshop Description:
Learn all about the complexity of the brain. Use the electrical activity in your muscles to control a robotic arm, or the arm of other participants.
Hosted by the SciHigh Program of the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital
16. getting wise with women in science and engineering
Workshop Description: 
Join Women in Science and Engineering, University of Toronto Chapter, to chat about the vast topics and pathways available in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) for students like you! We will be diving into some of the most groundbreaking research happening on your doorstep and dispelling common myths about careers in science. Find out how to get your hands on science in high school and beyond!
Hosted by the Women in Science and Engineering Program at the University of Toronto
17. From proteins to medicines
Workshop Description:
How is the DNA code used to make different types of cells in our bodies? Learn about how different proteins coded by your DNA can perform many functions in cells but defective proteins can result in disease. If we know what proteins look like and learn about protein structure, we can design drugs to fix the faulty proteins. See what happens when drugs bind proteins and learn how protein structure is investigated with the help of crystals and X-rays.
Hosted by the Structural Genomics Consortium 
18. The pacemaker
Workshop Description: 
With the growing field of Biomedical Engineering, more and more technology is used within the healthcare system to improve quality of life. The pacemaker has been used since 1958 and has changed throughout the years as new technologies have been developed. In this workshop, we will explore how electricity is linked to our body systems and students will create their own replica pacemaker using electrical components and a breadboard.
Hosted by the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University
19. Can you survive on ostevera?
Workshop Description: 
Ostevera explores the topics of food and energy on an abandoned planet. Your goal is to power up the Treegate, a cyber network of trees that holds the history and knowledge of the planet and its inhabitants, but first you must generate enough electrical energy and learn how to grow food to survive. Can you power up the Treegate and find a way home, or will the unique planetary conditions of Ostevera hinder your progress?
Hosted by INVIVO Communications
20. coding 101
Workshop Description: 
Do you want to learn how to code? This is your chance! STEM Fellowship will be hosting a data science workshop to master the essentials of the computer programming language Python. No experience is necessary! Students will code along with our workshop facilitators on laptops, and will master the basics of Python in this 50-minute long workshop. The following components will be covered in the workshop: what are variables, strings and basic operators? How can I create lists and dictionaries? When will I need to use conditions, and what’s a loop? Will I ever need to use a Boolean operator? While this workshop will only teach students the basics, it will prepare them for continuing to learn Python on their own, for more advanced programming courses, and a brighter future in data science.
Hosted by STEM Fellowship
21. Prehistoric fossils
Workshop Description: 
Explore Prehistoric Fossils with 16 year-old Keeley Aird, co-founder of STEM Kids Rock, an organization that empowers kids to teach kids science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn about different prehistoric fossils, where they were discovered, and interesting facts about the animals that they came from. Then, participants will go on their own fossil hunt, creating their very own fossil out of modeling clay and share with their peers the unique qualities of their one of a kind fossil. ​
Hosted by STEM Kids Rock
22. STEMneutral: Neutralizing the Playing Field For All Students
Workshop Description: 
There is a problem in STEM. Women are grossly underrepresented in the upper echelons. This problem is NOT due to biology or a lack of interest from females. This problem is a systemic sociocultural one. From the moment we are born culture works to imprint biases into our psyche. These implicit biases in both women and men are the root cause of the STEM problem. This workshop aims to empower students to neutralize the STEM playing field. By examining gender-role stereotyping and learning assertiveness strategies students gain tools that will give them a better chance at navigating the obstacles the will encounter in their future STEM careers.​
Hosted by the Ontario Science Centre
TEACHER WORKSHOP
​DESIGN THINKING, WHAT'S CURRENT IN TECH TODAY AND UNCONSCIOUS BIAS
​Workshop Description:
Join members of the IBM Canada STEM 4 Girls team in a hands on Design Thinking where you will learn the basic concepts of Design Thinking as well as discuss the question "how do we engage more girls in STEM". In the second part of the session, the discussion will focus on the importance of STEM in today's world as it relates to future career opportunities for students of today. The session will wrap up with a facilitated discussion on unconscious bias, gender equity and diversity.
Hosted by IBM

#MORPH2018 Exhibitors

Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science at Ryerson University
Faculty of Science at 
​Ryerson University
IBM
Lassonde School of Engineering at York University
Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
Ontario Science Centre
Ecospark
GENEius Science
Structural Genomics Consortium
Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University
Tech Spark
Let's Talk Science
hEr VOLUTION
Primate Tales
STEM Kids Rock
Canadian Association for Girls in Science
STEM Fellowship
Women in Science and Engineering
SHAD
Metamorphosis Girls STEM Conference 
Hosted and organized by John Polanyi Collegiate Institute 
640 Lawrence Avenue West
​Toronto ON M6A 1B1