Dr. David Pearson
Professor, Department of Earth Sciences
Co-Director, Science Communication Program

Pearson, David (Co-Director, Science Communication Graduate Program) was the Project Director and then founding Director of Science North from 1980 to 1986 and is currently Senior Science Advisor to the centre. He has hosted two science television series: "Understanding the Earth" for TV Ontario, and "Down to Earth" for Mid-Canada Television, as well as a weekly radio spot, "Radio Lab", on CBC Northern Ontario Radio. He received the Ward Neale Medal from the Geological Association of Canada for promotion of the Earth Sciences in Canada in 2001 and the McNeil medal for science communication from the Royal Society of Canada in 2003. David chaired the Ontario office of the Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network from 2002 to 2007; co-chaired the Ontario Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaptation, and chaired the Far North Science Advisory Panel for the Ontario Government that released its report “Science for a Changing Far North” in 2010. David is currently Science Advisor to the Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources at Laurentian and is working with Far North Ontario First Nation communities on climate change adaptation plans.

Chantal Barriault
Co-Director
705.522.3701, ext. 245
barriault@sciencenorth.ca

Chantal Barriault
M.Sc., Staff Scientist - Science Communication
Co-Director, Science Communication Pogram

Chantal Barriault started working at Science North while she was in high school in 1986. She has been a staff scientist at Science North since 1993 and has led many science communication projects including teacher training, education programmes, live theatre science shows and exhibit development. Chantal has an M.Sc. in Science Communication from the University of Glamorgan in Wales. She also has international experience with exhibit and show development projects for centres around the world.

Dr. David Goforth
Associate Professor
705.675.1151, ext. 2316
dgoforth@laurentian.ca

Dr. David Goforth
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

David Goforth worked at Science North from 1984 to 1986 when he began teaching computer science at Laurentian. He developed and taught a course in educational software development for senior computing undergraduates. His Ph.D. work was in educational technology and he has a particular interest in the design of systems that support people in managing their own learning.

Alan Nursall
705.522.3701, ext. 250
nursall@sciencenorth.ca

Alan Nursall, M.Sc.
Science Director, Science North

Alan Nursall has an M.Sc.in Geography and Meteorology. He joined Science North in 1984 and since then has been involved in virtually all aspects of science programme and exhibit development.  He has led the design and implementation of major galleries on topics as diverse as robotics, animals of Northern Canada, and science discovery for pre‑schoolers.  He has also led much of the computer development at the centre, including the development of educational science software and the installation and operation of the centre=s computer lab.  Recently, he led the team that developed the award‑winning exhibit Discovering Chimpanzees: The remarkable world of Jane Goodall.  Alan is a regular contributor to the Discovery Channel and since 1997 has hosted Science and the City, a weekly science column broadcast across Canada. In January 2000, Alan Nursall was appointed Science Director at Science North, assuming responsibility for the entire visitor experience at the centre.

Dr. Philippa Spoel
Associate Professor
705.675.1151, ext. 4345
pspoel@laurentian.ca

Dr. Philippa Spoel
Department of English

Philippa Spoel contributes expertise in the field of rhetorical studies to the Science Communication faculty team. The program benefits from her research and teaching experience in professional, scientific, and inter-disciplinary communication, including work in such areas as the history of scientific discourse; visual rhetoric in science; rhetorical-epistemological frameworks in science communication; expert practices of science communication; and health rhetoric. She is currently involved in research projects on communication practices between experts and laypeople in healthcare settings and on models for citizen engagement and public communication in environmental risk contexts.