Raising a pint for science

Starlight, star bright… what makes you shine at night?

It’s a question that backyard stargazers may wonder as they look up at dark skies. Over three evenings in May, that question and many others may be answered at Hamilton’s first-ever edition of the international Pint of Science Festival.

McMaster researchers will grab a pint of their favourite drink and sit down to talk science at The West Town on Locke Street and the Phoenix, McMaster’s Graduate Student Association pub located on the main campus.

Six separate events – all open to the public and free to attend – will focus on this inaugural year’s research themes: astronomy, physics and neuroscience.

Organizer Florence Roullet, assistant clinical professor (adjunct) in Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, is working with graduate students Sawayra Owais and Thanassis Psaltis, to bring Pint of Science to Hamilton.

“It’s exciting to bring something new to the city,” Roullet says. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for McMaster researchers to share their science with the community. And having relaxed and informal meet-ups, I think this makes science more accessible to everyone.”

Pint of Science Schedule

May 14, 5–7 p.m.

We are stardust featuring Alan Chen, professor, and PhD candidate Johnson Liang, both from Physics and Astronomy, at the Phoenix

Beyond the brain featuring John Connolly, professor in Linguistics and Languages, and biomedical engineering PhD student Rober Boshra, at The West Town

May 15, 5–7 p.m.

The secret lives of stars featuring Alison Sills, professor, and postdoctoral fellow Paolo Bianchini, both from Physics and Astronomy, at the West Town

Rhythms of music and love featuring Laurel Trainor, professor, and PhD student Andrew Chang, both from Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, at the Phoenix

May 16, 5–7 p.m.

Trick of light featuring Kalai Saravanamuttu, professor, and PhD student Kathryn Benincasa, both from Chemistry, at the Phoenix

Is everything addictive? featuring Iris Balodis, assistant professor, and Master’s student Fiza Arshad, both from Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, at The West Town

Pints around the world

The first Pint of Science Festival happened in 2013, in three cities in the United Kingdom. This year, scientists in more than 300 cities around the globe are lifting a their glasses in local pubs.

All events are free to attend; the only cost is your choice of refreshment. Online registration <https://pintofscience.ca/events/hamilton-on> is available – so the organizers can get an idea of the numbers – but if you don’t have a ticket, don’t worry.

Just drop by, grab a pint of your favourite and pull up a seat. There are more than enough fascinating research stories to go around.