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McDonald Institute
@mcdonaldinstitute.bsky.social
The Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute works to support the research network and help make Canada one of the best places for astroparticle physics.
Next Tuesday, Nov 25, It's NICKVEMBER with Nik Arora, Nick Swidinsky, and Nic Moss as your speakers for Astronomy on Tap. Three different perspectives on the science and engineering around the theoretical phenomenon of Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay and the SNO+ experiment!
November 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Next Thursday, Nov 20, at 1:30 PM ET, Zachary Picker (Queen's) will give a McDonald Institute Seminar on a theory of dark matter as large objects like quark nuggets, Fermi balls, or primordial black holes, how they could be formed, and how we might go about detecting them.
November 14, 2025 at 8:30 PM
The Deadline for the HQP Excellence Awards is Nov 15th! Check out the award categories and apply now to be considered! Full details at McDonaldInstitute.ca/news/hexawards
November 11, 2025 at 10:54 PM
This Saturday, dark matter theorist Joe Bramante gives you the #DarkMatterDay you've been searching for! Discover how the very early universe could have created gigantic dark matter detectors! Followed by a dark matter science fair and tour of the Queen's Observatory!
Info at McDonaldinstitute.ca
November 4, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Next Saturday, Nov 8th, Join Dr. Joe Bramante for Dark Matter Day! Learn about how supernovae can be used to detect dark matter! A science fair will be set up in Stirling Hall, and a tour of the Queen's Observatory! Free for all ages. More info at mcdonaldinstitute.ca
November 1, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Adriana Bariego, a new member of the Queen's University Astroparticle Physics Theory group, is giving the McDonald Institute HQP Seminar tomorrow, Wednesday, 29th at 3:00 PM ET. Watch live on our YouTube, or visit our webpage for a link to join the Zoom.
October 28, 2025 at 7:11 PM
This Wednesday afternoon, Oct 29th at 3:00 PM ET. Adriana Bariego will give the monthly McDonald Institute HQP Seminar, live on YouTube and Zoom. Check mcdonaldinstitute.ca for details.
October 25, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Today, Dr. Art McDonald joined students and leaders from Queen's University and NSERC to reflect on the legacy of the SNO experiment on the 10th anniversary of receiving the Nobel Prize in Physics with Dr. Takaaki Kajita for the discovery of neutrino oscillation. Read more at bit.ly/3W8GHHt
October 17, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Tomorrow night! Learn how physicists use the ice at the South Pole to detect neutrinos, and take a tour of the Queen's Observatory, the McDonald Institute Visitor's Centre, and the @c2mci.bsky.social research labs!
https://mcdonaldinstitute.ca/events/science-literacy-week-2025-from-sea-to-space/
October 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
TONIGHT! Starting at 6:30 PM AT, Astronomy on Tap: Fredericton is live at Picaroon Brewing Company! Join the fun, learn the science, and win the prizes with our world-class astroparticle physics speakers and host! Details at mcdonaldinstitute.ca
October 9, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This Thursday, Oct 9th, come to Astronomy on Tap: Fredericton! Enjoy an evening of science with experts in astroparticle physics from across the country! Hear about the incredible science happening in Canada and test your skills in science trivia, all in good company at Picaroon!
October 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
There are a couple of spots left in this free science workshop for high school kids!
On Oct 11 from 1-5 PM, they'll learn about physics in ice and how carbon coatings are tested in the ocean! Register now:
https://www.carbon-2-metal-institute.queensu.ca/event-details/high-school-student-workshop
October 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
This free science workshop for high school kids is filling up!
On Oct 11 from 1-5 PM, they'll learn about physics in ice and how carbon coatings are tested in the ocean! Register now:
https://www.carbon-2-metal-institute.queensu.ca/event-details/high-school-student-workshop
September 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
On Oct 11 from 1-5 PM, high school-aged students are invited to a workshop to learn about physics in ice and how carbon coatings are tested in the ocean with hands-on experiments and exciting demonstrations!
https://www.carbon-2-metal-institute.queensu.ca/event-details/high-school-student-workshop
September 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Science Literacy Week is just around the corner: Oct 6-12! Join us on Saturday, Oct 11, to hear Prof. Nahee Park (@queensuresearch.bsky.social) talk about astroparticle physics in Antarctica! ❄️ and get a tour of the Queen's Observatory, the McDonald Institute and the @c2mci.bsky.social research labs
September 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
We're on the move again! @astronomyontap is coming to #fredericton with our hosts at UNB! Join astroparticle physicists Christine Kraus of @snolabscience.bsky.social , William Woodley from @ualberta.bsky.social, and our own Scientific Director, Tony Noble, on Thursday, October 9th at 6:30 PM! 🚀
September 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Tomorrow! Lauren Wright Vartanian, textile-based artist and author/illustrator of Stitching Science, will be at the County Arts Lab in Picton, where she will be talking about her art practice and the amazing textile illustrations in her book.
September 13, 2025 at 2:50 AM
We're excited to present an artist talk with Lauren Wright Vartanian, @neuronsandnebulas.bsky.social, next Saturday, September 13th, from 6-8 PM at the County Arts Lab in Picton!

mcdonaldinstitute.ca/events/stitc...
September 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The McDonald Institute annual astroparticle physics research community meeting is next week at Carleton University, and we are thrilled to welcome Laura Suen, Founder and CEO of Fire and Steel Inc. Laura will speak on our panel focused on entrepreneurship about the business of replica swords. ⚔️
August 1, 2025 at 1:22 PM
We are hosting our annual astroparticle physics research community meeting next week at Carleton University, and are excited to welcome Alan DeKok, CEO of Ink Bridge Networks and Founder of FreeRADIUS. Alan will speak on a post-academic career pathways panel and a panel focused on entrepreneurship.
July 31, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Look to the Skies: A fly-by history of astronomical observation technology! Eli Berry is one of our three speakers for Astronomy on Tap Kingston, Tomorrow evening, July 28 at 6:30 PM at The Mansion (506 Pincess St.)
July 27, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The Martian Chronicles: It's not fiction if you don't know it's not true!
Is the title of Ezri Wyman's talk at AstronomyOnTap on Monday, July 28th! Come hear Ezri and our two other awesome scientists from Queen's University at The Mansion, 506 Princess St. Downtown Kingston!
July 26, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Are you in #Kingston #YGK this summer and love #sciart? Come and see the amazing original artwork by Guelph artist Lauren Wright Vartanian aka Neurons and Nebulas from her new book, Stitching Science: Exploring Science from A-Z with text from Keltie Thomas, published by Firefly Books.
July 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Thank you Jocelyn Sinclair from @canjphysics.bsky.social / @csp
@cdnsciencepub.com for the fantastic workshop of publishing guidelines at the Women+ In Physics Conference at @queensuglobal.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The 2025 Women+ In Physics Canada Conference is hosting a free public talk on July 23rd at 6:30 PM at the BioSciences Complex at Queens University, 116 Barrie St. Learn about the latest advances in radio astronomy from Queen's/RMC Professor Dr. Kristine Spekkens!
mcdonaldinstitute.ca/events/spekk...
July 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM