Get ready for an unforgettable evening with The Story Collider in Toronto! On February 27th, we’re bringing you true, personal stories about science to Burdock Brewery.
From unexpected discoveries to defying norms, these stories will take you on a journey through the unusual, the extraordinary, and the one-of-a-kind moments that shape our lives.
Whether you're a science enthusiast, a story lover, or just looking for a night out that’s anything but typical, this show is for you!
Hosted by Sara Mazrouei and Misha Gajewski, this show will be live streamed.
Doors at 6:00 pm, show starts at 6:30 pm.
This event is sponsored by the Royal Canadian Institute for Science and is part of the Replay Storytelling Story Fest.
Use code SCIENCESTORY to receive a $5 discount!
About the Storytellers
Aaron Maxwell is an astrophysicist, data scientist, and science communicator. He completed his doctoral degree at McMaster University, where he used hydrodynamic simulations to investigate discrepancies between observations of galaxies and predictions from cosmological models. Aaron’s experience in machine-learning using large datasets led to his most recent role at Paladin AI, where he built an AI system to assist in the training of aircraft pilots. Throughout his studies, Aaron developed an interest in knowledge translation and science policy, working as a senior executive responsible for graduate student health policy and delivering science outreach programs to historically-excluded groups in remote communities. Over the years, he has continued to work and volunteer for various organizations, including the Canadian Science Policy Conference, Canada Learning Code, and the Council of Canadian Academies. His expertise in coding and data visualization helped empower the Council’s report panel to explore new ways to inform public policy in Canada. As a science communicator, Aaron strives to increase representation, access and inclusion, such as through his role as a science presenter on the TVOntario show “Blynk & Aazoo”. He is currently a Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellow at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Marney Isaac is a Professor in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Global Development Studies at the University of Toronto. She is the co-Director of the University of Toronto’s Sustainable Food and Farming Futures Cluster. Her research develops social-ecological methods to generate insights into sustainable agriculture policy and practice. She leads an interdisciplinary research lab that explores plant-soil interactions, nutrient cycles and ecosystem function in diversified agroecosystems, and the social processes that lead to sustainable agriculture. Dr. Isaac is an editorial board member of leading journals in sustainable agriculture and agroecology, serves on multiple research networks, and is the lead of TOsustain, a multi-institution, multi-partner research program on urban agriculture. She publishes widely in environmental science, agronomy, ecology, and multi-disciplinary sustainability science journals.
Adam Chen is an entrepreneur and storyteller who loves to play around in the world of experimental non-fiction. He’s the founder Felt - a mobile platform that heals your relationships through storytelling. He also started The Living Magazine, a Toronto-based live journalism and storytelling company, and served as a researcher, producer and performer with the stitched! live journalism studio. As a journalist, he's written for HuffPost, Buzzfeed, The Hoser, and Greencamp. When he's not working on stories, you can spot him walking his two cats, Mango and Peppercoat, around College Park.
Christel Bartelse is an Actor/Comedic Performer, Storyteller, Clown, Writer, and Educator. She got her start in comedy and improv with the Physical Comedy Duo "The Burnt Marshmallows (Canadian Comedy Award Nominees). She has created and written six award winning Solo Shows "Chaotica", "ONEymoon", "Significant Me", "All KIDDIng Aside", "The Surprise" and "Encore" and has toured them all across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. Most recently she wrote "A Woman of my Age" which she continues to develop. She can be seen on stages all over Toronto with her comedy, character work, and storytelling. She was the Co-Producer and Co-Host of the hit Storytelling Show "But That's Another Story" for over five years. She now produces and hosts "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" at the Burdock, Bi-Monthly, which features veteran comedians/storytellers sharing material on the theme of Age. She also teaches numerous workshops in improv, physical comedy, solo creation and storytelling around the city and is proud faculty member of Humber College, Toronto Film School, and George Brown College.
Fiona Tudor Price is a seasoned producer, director, and science communicator with a unique blend of expertise in biology, media and education. With a BSc. Hons. in Biology and Film & Television Studies, Fiona began her career at TVOntario and Corus Entertainment, contributing to award-winning environmental and science documentaries. In 1999, she moved to South Africa and founded Atomic Productions, where she directed and produced impactful natural-history content for global networks including National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and WWF. Transforming complex scientific concepts into compelling, human-centred narratives, Fiona earned a reputation for making science accessible to broader audiences. A passionate advocate for women in media, Fiona founded Women in Film and Television South Africa (WIFT SA), providing a platform for mentorship, networking, and empowerment within the industry. She is deeply committed to educational equity, particularly for learners with dyslexia. Fiona collaborated with Decoding Dyslexia, Ontario, to initiate the transformational Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read inquiry, to address systemic issues in education for learners with dyslexia. Currently, Fiona is a Digital Media and Accessibility Specialist at Humber Polytechnic, focusing on the intersection of multimedia, AI, and accessibility in education, driving innovation at the crossroads of education and technology.