McMaster Children & Youth University

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McMaster Children & Youth University The McMaster Children and Youth University is a free program for all young individuals ages 7 to 14.

MCYU offers free monthly lectures hosted on the McMaster University campus. The interactive lectures feature demonstrations and experiments (depending on the topic), with lots of opportunity to pose questions and engage the professors. The program is designed to spark curiosity by covering all STEAM topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). It’s also a great opportunity to find out what it feels like to be on campus and get a taste of what university life is like! MCYU was inspired by the European Children’s University Network. Over the past 10 years, the term “Children’s University” has become synonymous with science-related lectures, workshops and demonstrations for young people. Today, in over 200 locations across Europe, educational activities tailored for youth take place on university campuses and imitate academic life for kids. We loved the idea so much that we decided to bring it home to McMaster. In our inaugural year over 175 students participated in MCYU lectures. Many of those students attended four or more sessions and officially graduated from the 2011/2012 academic year. Our dedicated graduates all received diplomas acknowledging their commitment, curiosity and willingness to learn.

Jeremy Hansen and Why Exploration Still Matters🔹 Why do humans keep exploring?For thousands of years, people have crosse...
10/09/2026

Jeremy Hansen and Why Exploration Still Matters

🔹 Why do humans keep exploring?

For thousands of years, people have crossed oceans, mapped mountains, studied the skies, and searched beyond the horizon.

Today, exploration continues in space.

One of Canada's most important explorers is Jeremy Hansen, who became the first Canadian to participate in a lunar mission as a member of Artemis II. Artemis II carried astronauts around the Moon, marking humanity's return to deep-space exploration. [asc-csa.gc.ca], [cbc.ca], [collectspace.com]

But Jeremy Hansen's story is about more than a trip around the Moon.

It's about curiosity, service, and helping others dream bigger.

🔹 Why Artemis Matters

The Artemis program aims to help humans learn how to live and work farther from Earth than ever before.

Scientists, engineers, astronauts, and researchers are working together to prepare for future exploration of the Moon and beyond. Gateway, which Canada is helping support through Canadarm3, will play an important role in that effort. [asc-csa.gc.ca], [asc-csa.gc.ca]

🔹 A New Chapter
Earlier this year, Jeremy Hansen completed his historic Artemis II mission.
He has also announced that he will leave his full-time role at the Canadian Space Agency while continuing to support Canada's future in space through new opportunities and continued service as a reservist with the Royal Canadian Air Force. [spaceq.ca], [cbc.ca]

That means his story as an active CSA astronaut is changing.

But his impact continues.

Throughout his career, Jeremy Hansen has helped inspire Canadians to see themselves as explorers, scientists, engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers. [spaceq.ca], [kawartha411.ca]

🔹 Exploration Is For Everyone

One lesson from Jeremy's journey is that exploration is not only for astronauts.

Exploration happens when:
▪️ a student asks a new question
▪️ a scientist tests an idea
▪️ an artist helps explain a discovery
▪️ a teacher inspires curiosity
▪️ a family explores together

Exploration belongs to everyone.

🔹 Explore Together

Ask your family:
▪️ What places remain unexplored today?
▪️ The deep ocean?
▪️ The Arctic?
▪️ The Moon?
▪️ Mars?
▪️ Or perhaps ideas that have not been discovered yet?

Then ask:
▪️ Why do you think humans continue exploring?

🔹 One Planet Thought

Every journey away from Earth teaches us how special our home planet really is.

The farther explorers travel, the more clearly they see something important:

No matter where we go, we all share one planet.

🔗 Explore more stories about space, discovery, and our shared future on the OOTW25 Space Blog:
https://ootw25.ca/category/blog/

[Sources]
Canadian Space Agency
About Canadarm3: https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/canadarm3/about.asp
Gateway and Moon Exploration: https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronomy/moon-exploration/gateway.asp
Additional reporting regarding Jeremy Hansen's transition from the CSA:
SpaceQ: Astronaut Jeremy Hansen to leave Canadian Space Agency this September
CBC News: Astronaut Jeremy Hansen is retiring from the Canadian Space Agency





🌎 TWO LANGUAGES. ONE SKY.🌎 DEUX LANGUES. UN SEUL CIEL.We're excited to share that OOTW25 is now available in both Engl...
10/08/2026

🌎 TWO LANGUAGES. ONE SKY.
🌎 DEUX LANGUES. UN SEUL CIEL.

We're excited to share that OOTW25 is now available in both English and French.

From the beginning, our goal has been to create a place where families can explore space, science, discovery, and our shared planet together. Today, we're taking an important step toward making those conversations available to even more people.

You can now switch seamlessly between English and French using the language toggle on our website.

Whether you're reading about Canadian astronauts, space robotics, exploration, or the future of our planet, we hope even more families will join the journey.

🔹 Explore Together

What discovery would you most like future generations to make?

🔹 One Planet Thought

We may speak different languages, but we all share the same sky, the same curiosity, and the same planet.

Visitez notre site dès aujourd'hui et essayez le nouveau sélecteur de langue!

🔗 Explore more stories about space, discovery, and our shared future on the OOTW25 Space Blog:

https://ootw25.ca/category/blog/





Joshua Kutryk's Mission Shows That Exploration Takes a Team🔹 When we see a rocket launch, who do we notice first?Usuall...
10/02/2026

Joshua Kutryk's Mission Shows That Exploration Takes a Team

🔹 When we see a rocket launch, who do we notice first?

Usually, we notice the astronauts.

But every mission depends on thousands of people working together.

Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is preparing for a mission to the International Space Station as part of Crew-13. He will spend months living and working in orbit while conducting scientific research and helping operate the station. [asc-csa.gc.ca]

It's an incredible achievement.

But it's also a reminder that exploration is always a team effort.

🔹 More Than One Person

Before a spacecraft leaves Earth, countless people contribute:

▪️ Engineers design vehicles.
▪️ Scientists plan experiments.
▪️ Medical experts monitor astronaut health.
▪️ Technicians prepare equipment.
▪️ Communicators share discoveries with the public.
▪️ Educators inspire future explorers.

Space exploration brings together people from many different backgrounds and disciplines.

🔹 Why Do We Keep Going?

Life on the International Space Station helps researchers learn how humans can live and work for long periods away from Earth.

Those lessons may someday help future explorers travel farther into the Solar System.

At the same time, discoveries made in space can improve life on Earth.

Researchers continue to study everything from human health to new technologies while astronauts live aboard the station.

🔹 The Real Story

It's easy to think space exploration is only about rockets.

In reality, it's about people.

People asking questions.

People working together.

People solving problems.

And people sharing what they learn.

🔹 Explore Together

Ask your family:

▪️ How many different jobs do you think are needed to send one astronaut into space?

Make a list.
You might be surprised how many roles are involved.

Then ask:
▪️ Which role sounds most interesting to you?

🔹 One Planet Thought

The International Space Station is one of the greatest examples of international cooperation ever built.

People from many nations work together there every day.

Space exploration reminds us that big challenges are often solved when we collaborate rather than compete.

🔗 Explore more stories about space, discovery, and our shared future on the OOTW25 Space Blog:
https://ootw25.ca/category/blog/

[Sources]
Canadian Space Agency
Joshua Kutryk Assigned to Crew-13 Space Station Mission: https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/news/articles/2026/2026-04-23-csa-joshua-kutryk-assigned-to-crew-13-space-station-mission.asp





🚀 From astronaut to Canadian icon. How did Chris Hadfield become the "Spaceman From Next Door"? A new OOTW25 article by ...
10/01/2026

🚀 From astronaut to Canadian icon.

How did Chris Hadfield become the "Spaceman From Next Door"?

A new OOTW25 article by historian Shannon Brown explores how newspapers, television, and later social media helped shape one of Canada's most recognizable astronauts.

🌎 Test pilot
🛰️ Spacewalker
🤝 International collaborator
📱 Science communicator

Read the full story on the OOTW25 Space Blog:
https://ootw25.ca/introducing-the-spaceman-from-next-door-chris-hadfield-in-the-press/

─────

🚀 Du pilote à l'icône canadienne.

Comment Chris Hadfield est-il devenu le « spationaute du voisin »?

Dans un nouvel article d'OOTW25, l'historien Shannon Brown explore comment les médias ont contribué à faire connaître l'un des astronautes les plus influents de l'histoire canadienne.

🌎 Pilote d'essai
🛰️ Marcheur de l'espace
🤝 Collaborateur international
📱 Communicateur scientifique

Lisez l'article complet sur le blogue Espace d'OOTW25 :
https://ootw25.ca/fr/introducing-the-spaceman-from-next-door-chris-hadfield-in-the-press/

Sept 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. The day was established t...
09/30/2026

Sept 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. The day was established to honour victims and survivors of the Residential School system and their families

At MCYU we acknowledge and commit ourselves to learning and understanding the importance of truth and reconciliation.

We are committed to including indigenous knowledge, history, stories and perspectives in our programming for young folks and families.

We encourage our community today to reflect, listen and honour experiences of survivors, their family and communities.

We encourage you to start a conversation with your kids about the meaning behind Orange Shirt Day. Some questions to start the conversation could be,

“What does every child matters mean to you?”

“How can we show kindness and respect to everyone in our community?”

“What is a residential school”

As a family you can read, watch or listen to indigenous stories together.

What are you doing as a family? What questions have you asked that sparked meaningful conversations?

CANADARM3: THE ROBOT HELPING HUMANS REACH FARTHER🔹 What if you could build a robot to help people explore places humans ...
09/22/2026

CANADARM3: THE ROBOT HELPING HUMANS REACH FARTHER

🔹 What if you could build a robot to help people explore places humans can't easily go?

Throughout history, humans have built tools to help them venture farther and discover more.

Today, Canada is helping create one of the most advanced exploration tools ever designed: Canadarm3.

According to the Canadian Space Agency, Canadarm3 is Canada's next-generation robotic system being developed to support Gateway, a future space station that will orbit the Moon. It will help move equipment, support scientific work, assist astronauts, and perform some tasks on its own. [asc-csa.gc.ca], [asc-csa.gc.ca]

But Canadarm3 is about much more than robotics.

It's about extending human reach.

🔹 Why Build a Robot for the Moon?

The Moon is a challenging place.

Astronauts won't always be present, and some jobs can be dangerous or difficult.

That's where robots can help.

Canadarm3 is being designed to inspect equipment, relocate cargo, assist visiting spacecraft, support science activities, and even help maintain itself. [asc-csa.gc.ca]

Think of it as a trusted teammate that helps humans explore farther than ever before.

🔹 A Long Canadian Tradition

Canadarm3 didn't appear overnight.

It follows decades of Canadian innovation.

▪️ Canadarm helped build the Space Shuttle program.
▪️ Canadarm2 became a key part of the International Space Station.
▪️ Dextre helped astronauts complete complex maintenance tasks.
▪️ Canadarm3 is preparing for the next chapter: exploration around the Moon. [asc-csa.gc.ca]

Each generation has built on the achievements of the one before it.

That's how exploration works.

🔹 Space Helps Earth Too

One of the most exciting things about space exploration is that it often leads to discoveries that help people here at home.

Robotics developed for space can improve automation, remote operations, healthcare technologies, inspection systems, and other tools used on Earth.

When we reach farther into space, we often learn new ways to improve life on our own planet.

🔹 Explore Together

Ask your family:
▪️ If you could design one robot to help people on Earth, what would it do?
▪️ Would it help clean oceans?
▪️ Assist firefighters?
▪️ Deliver medicine?
▪️ Grow food?

Draw your robot and give it a name.

You might be designing something future engineers will build one day.

🔹 One Planet Thought

Even though Canadarm3 is being designed for the Moon, its story begins here on Earth.

Exploration reminds us that we all share one planet and that solving big challenges requires creativity, teamwork, and cooperation.

🔹 Explore more stories about space, discovery, and our shared future on the OOTW25 Space Blog:
https://ootw25.ca/category/blog/

[Sources]

Canadian Space Agency

▪️ About Canadarm3: https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/canadarm3/about.asp
▪️ Gateway and Moon Exploration: https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronomy/moon-exploration/gateway.asp





Join us this morning as we here from two young innovators. This is a free family event geared towards ages 7-14. Walk-In...
05/30/2026

Join us this morning as we here from two young innovators.
This is a free family event geared towards ages 7-14. Walk-Ins are welcome.
More info on our website at http://mcyu.mcmaster.ca

Now available. 🇨🇦🚀A wonderful new episode from Canadian History Ehx on Chris Hadfield — one of the most important figure...
05/11/2026

Now available. 🇨🇦🚀
A wonderful new episode from Canadian History Ehx on Chris Hadfield — one of the most important figures in Canada’s space story.
A meaningful addition to the wider story we’re exploring through OOTW25.
Listen to the full podcast here (Link in bio): https://ootw25.ca/canadian-history-ehx-biography-chris-hadfield/


Address

McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON
L8S4L8

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+19055212100

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