2023 | tmuSPROUT

This Year's Partner

About the Ontario Science Centre

Located in North York, The Ontario Science Centre, opened in 1969, was one of the first interactive Science Museums in the world. The Ontario Science Centre's main mission is to inspire passion for human adventure and discovery, with the vision of creating a more curious, creative, and resilient world.

2023 Info-Drops

Helpful Information for our Contestants, Partners, Experts and Judges!

Info-Drop #1

This Info-Drop contains general event information, and additional information for judges and contestants--includes judging criteria and contestant dress-code etc

Info-Drop #2

This info-Drop contains information about our partners-- The Ontario Science Centre, as well as additional information regarding this year's SPROUT Theme.

Info-Drop #3

This Info-Drop contains information about how to work as a team, how to network and how to best use expert advice. Additionally, you'll learn about this year's judges and experts!

2023 Judges Panel

Zoe Fitzgerald

Claire Corinccha

Sam Dano

Raluca Ellis

Natasha Chowdry

Chris Randall

2023 Experts Panel

Tanya Rumble

Tanya is a racialized settler living in Tkaronto. She is a fundraising leader who has raised millions for some of Canada's largest charities including Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, and McMaster University. Tanya is now Executive Director of Development with the Faculty of Arts and Yellowhead Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson). As a racialized philanthropy professional Tanya is honoured to share her influence and insights with students, emerging professionals and peers in the sector. Tanya regularly writes articles on the topics of inclusion, equity, and access; and power, privilege and fundraising for industry publications and speaks to professional audiences at learning events regularly.

She graduated with an Hons. B.A. Political Science from McMaster University, earned a Graduate Certificate at NYU in Marketing Communications, and is currently enrolled in the Master Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (MPNL) at Carleton University. She has also completed numerous professional certificates including Not-For-Profit Governance Essentials (Rotman School of Management, Institute of Corporate Directors) and Truth and Reconciliation Through Right Relations (Banff Centre). Tanya is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and Master Financial Advisor - Philanthropy (MFA-P™).

Additionally, she is an active leadership volunteer in the philanthropy and non-profit sector: Member of the Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector with the Government of Canada; Board Director with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Canada; executive volunteer with the Canadian Association of Gift Planners; and Co-Chair of the Board with FindHelp Information Services - operators of 211 Toronto. In addition to sharing her knowledge, she is committed to lifelong learning - she is a graduate of the 2017 Association of Fundraising Professionals Inclusion and Philanthropy Fellowship, and 2010 DiverseCity Fellowship. Tanya gratefully acknowledges the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee nations, whose traditional territory she is a settler and responsible steward of.

Walter Stoddard

Mr. Stoddard joined the Ontario Science Centre in 2000 and has worked as a Science Educator, a Host, Senior Scientist, and, in his current position, a Researcher — Programmer. Mr. Stoddard is part of the team responsible for exhibition content research and new exhibit conceptualization and design.
Since the founding of the Ontario Science Centre Innovation in Mas’ Award, which honours the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Designer whose creation best exemplifies the application of principles and practices of innovation, Mr. Stoddard has served as lead judge on award’s the jury panel.
Mr. Stoddard has played a role in coordinating and developing several of the Centre’s public programs and exhibits. One of his most recent assignments was to the team who developed MindWorks, a travelling exhibition that helps visitors experience the inner workings of their own minds.
Mr. Stoddard’s experience at the Ontario Science Centre includes the delivery of countless live public science demonstrations, presentation of many special offerings, and the performing of curriculum-centred, school programs.
Mr. Stoddard holds a B.A.Sc. from the Engineering Science Aerospace program, at the University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario). Before joining the Centre, he enjoyed tutoring math and science for over a decade, from the preschool to the high school level. Mr. Stoddard has also taught a variety of model rocketry courses, including “Model Rockets from Scratch”, a science program he designed and taught for a school-age daycare (grades 3 to 6) that turned common household items — cardboard, empty paper towel tubes, plastic bags, rubber bands, etc. — into flying rockets.