10 YEARS OF WEIRD

Beakerhead was founded in 2013 with the belief that making science and engineering accessible through art and entertainment would lead to unprecedented human ingenuity… and it sure has!

Over the last nine years, Beakerhead has facilitated 542,000 in-person encounters with science, technology, engineering, and math, through art and entertainment. This magic has been made with 665 local partners, 35,000 volunteer hours, and 1,442 collaborating presenters. And we’ve reached over 605 million people online. That’s a lot of numbers. But they all add up to awesome.

Body Event Popup

September 14 – 17, 2023

Beakerhead takes over Contemporary Calgary and Millennium Park for its 10th Anniversary celebration!

Beakerhead Impact Reports

2022 Impact Report

2021 Impact Report

2019 Impact Report

2018 Impact Report

2017 Impact Report

2016 Impact Report

2015 Impact Report

2014 Impact Report

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The Lowdown on the 2022 Highlights

Prosthesis: The Anti-Robot | Exosapien Technologies

What would you do if you were a giant? Well, you would stroll down the street and create quite a scene. Beakerhead connected Calgarians with Prosthesis: The Anti-Robot, the world’s first human-powered mech racing machine by Exosapien Technologies. Weighing in at 4,000kg, Prosthesis prowled down 8th Avenue SW at A β€˜LOT’ of Curiosity. It crushed castles created by local makers from Fuse 33 Makerspace, stomped its way through wooden pallets, awed crowds with its awesome strength, and was piloted by Calgary’s Mayor, Jyoti Gondek. Because that’s what giants (and mayors) do.

Beakerhead has Ignition! | Launch Party at TELUS Spark

On September 23, 2022, Beakerhead threw open the doors at its new home base: TELUS Spark Science Centre. 3,082 friends joined in for shows in the Infinity Dome, Hack the House invention demonstrations, science-themed cocktails, the first in-person PechaKucha YYC since 2019, live painting, roving performers, and so much more. The coolest part? Admission to the whole science centre was free!

The Kids Are Alright | Hack the House

With support from the APEGA Foundation, Beakerhead remixed its previous Hack the Flyer design challenge and relaunched it this year as Hack the House. Two youth teams supported by adult mentors flexed their creative muscles to turn pieces of recycled household furniture into sustainably powered, rideable machines β€” the Zoomer and the Chariot β€” which were unveiled at Spark and showcased at Century Gardens.

There’s No Place Like β€˜The DOME’ | B!G ART

B!G ART, the Victoria Park Business Improvement Area, and Calgary Parks partnered to bring a 44-foot geodesic dome to Beakerhead. This 360-degree mathematical marvel hosted Sounds of Science, yoga, sword swallowing, Flint the Robo-pup, Le Cirque de la Nuit, Reading with Royalty, fire performers, a Star Wars string orchestra, and more β€” made more magical by immersive projections and surround sound.

It’s What’s On

The Inside That Counts

Try Me! (left)

Beakerhead Blasts From theΒ Past

Beakerhead Paraluna photo by Andrew Bain
Beakerhead photo by Gilles Thibault
Beakerhead Balloons and old house "Dreams Never Die" by Johanna Hung
Beakearhead Bleeding Heart by David Kotsibie
Beakerhead photo by David Kotsibie

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