Episode Details
Back to Episodes
This Biologist Helped Build Science North and Left a Legacy of Curiosity
Episode 97
Published 9 months, 1 week ago
Description
What does it take to inspire a generation? In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, we sit down with legendary science communicator Franco Mariotti, one of the original minds behind Science North.
Franco shares how his passion for biology and the natural world helped shape the early days of the centre. From bringing in live beavers and flying squirrels, to building exhibits that changed how kids (and adults) understand science.
He shares personal stories of working with Jane Goodall, the evolution of IMAX, the rebirth of Sudbury’s landscape, and what it means to truly connect people with nature.
05:04 - How Science North Started — and Why It Was So Different
11:15 - Ralph the Porcupine and a Life-Changing Moment
15:05 - Jane Goodall Walks In Unexpectedly
22:00 - The Beavers, the Boardwalk, and Connecting to Nature
26:00 - Re-Greening Sudbury: A Global Success Story
32:00 - Wolf Lake and the Fight to Protect It
36:00 - The Role of Beavers in Ecosystems
42:00 - Franco’s Love for the Arctic and Polar Expeditions
50:00 - The Magic Tunnel: Why Science North Still Matters Today
Franco shares how his passion for biology and the natural world helped shape the early days of the centre. From bringing in live beavers and flying squirrels, to building exhibits that changed how kids (and adults) understand science.
He shares personal stories of working with Jane Goodall, the evolution of IMAX, the rebirth of Sudbury’s landscape, and what it means to truly connect people with nature.
05:04 - How Science North Started — and Why It Was So Different
11:15 - Ralph the Porcupine and a Life-Changing Moment
15:05 - Jane Goodall Walks In Unexpectedly
22:00 - The Beavers, the Boardwalk, and Connecting to Nature
26:00 - Re-Greening Sudbury: A Global Success Story
32:00 - Wolf Lake and the Fight to Protect It
36:00 - The Role of Beavers in Ecosystems
42:00 - Franco’s Love for the Arctic and Polar Expeditions
50:00 - The Magic Tunnel: Why Science North Still Matters Today