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We're accepting applications for membership!

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Is there a problem you're passionate about solving? Do you want support bringing an idea to life? If so, the SDZ could be the place to help you get started.

Use this link to apply for membership and get the support you need to explore what entrepreneurship could mean for you!

Member News:

Biomakerspace students working
Biomakerspace Program:

The winter 2023 cohort of our Biomakerspace program is halfway through the semester! This program connects TMU students across the faculties of science, business, and community services and supports them as they propose a biology-based solution to an industry challenge.  The program focuses on a different topic every semester and for this cohort, it is food sustainability, security, and safety. The SDZ’s Biomakerspace is an opportunity for students to explore problems and test out creative ways to solve them, get hands-on experience by working with real-world issues, and get exposure to different career pathways both from the project as well as through connections to peers and mentors. 

This term, we have 4 student teams and over the last few weeks, we’ve been helping them refine their scientific and business proposals. Next step: prototyping!

 

Stories

Our members are pursuing their passions on so many topics, and we want everyone to know about their successes. Take a look at the features below to see what some of our members have been up to. We're only getting started, so stay tuned for more highlights!

An update from the SDZ
An update from the SDZ

October 26, 2022

An update of our year so far  (opens in new window) 

Here's a short summary of some of what we've been up to! Stay tuned for our end-of-year recap or join our mailing list to get more updates!

This has the SDZ's logo in the centre and coloured rectangular lines around the sides. Our icon are three overlapping sqaures with red, blue, yellow, pink, and green.
The Science Discovery Zone - One Year Remote

March 17, 2021

The Science Discovery Zone - One Year Remote (opens in new window) 

Today officially marks one year since Ryerson University had to close down in light of the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. Read on to find out about what our community has accomplished.

This is a clip from the motion-film that is referenced in this highlight. There is a family around a dinner table eating (a mom, dad, and two young children).
Member Highlight: Kjell Boersma

July 10, 2020

Kjell Boersma: Experimental Astronaught (opens in new window) 

Travelling from Sesame Street to the SDZ and beyond, Kjell Boersma’s artistic journey has taken off.   Upon completing his Image Arts bachelor’s degree at Ryerson in 2018, the Astronaught Media founder joined the SDZ to grow his passion for storytelling. He stayed for the early-idea incubator's personalized approach to supporting its members.

Sustainability In Food, Podcast
Sustainability In Food

May 17 2021

Podcast Episode: Sustainability In Food (opens in new window) 

This series takes a curious peek at and draws inspiration from some of Canada’s most innovative thinkers to envision a better world.

 

This reads, "The SDZ Presents The Curiosity Series" in blue text on a solid black background.
Event Highlight: The Curiosity Series

December 3, 2020

The Curiosity Series: COVID-19 As A Disruptor

The chaos of the pandemic has made issues of inequity, harmful silences, and systemic failures plain to see.

Merely realizing these deeply rooted shortcomings, however, is not enough.

Crowd of people near a TTC bus
Event Recap: Pandemic spaces yesterday, today, and tomorrow

July 02, 2020

The Curiosity Series: Pandemic spaces yesterday, today, and tomorrow (opens in new window) 

From the not-so-Spanish flu to survival behaviours to restarting Toronto neighbourhoods, the Science Discovery Zone's The Curiosity Series: How will our interactions with space change? described relationships between us, physical space and COVID.

This has open red curtains and in the middle it reads, "The Science Discovery Zone's First Look Showcase" in black text.
Event Highlight: A Peek into our First Look Showcase!

April 19, 2021

A Peek into our First Look Showcase (opens in new window) 

This past year has been tough for startups, but many founders at the SDZ used this time to pause and reframe a path for their company; let's take a look!

Vahid is wearing a green t-shirt and is standing outdoors in the evening/night on a grassy field.
Member Highlight: Vahid Safar

July 17, 2020

Vahid Safar's Prize-Winning Risk (opens in new window) 

In May, the fifth-year Biology student’s idea for an autonomous camera system won the Science Discovery Zone’s Steve Naraine Early Innovation Prize. The win grants Vahid $2000 toward the system's development.