In April of 2024, the Faculty of Education, including first-year Bachelor of Education students, hosted an eclipse viewing party to celebrate the North American total solar eclipse. Solar eclipse glasses were given out to the Mount Community. On April 8, 2024 attendees donned the glasses at a gathering in front of Seton Academic Centre to expand their science literacy and experience this once-in-a-lifetime event (the next total solar eclipse in Atlantic Canada will occur on May 1, 2079).
Aware of an annular eclipse taking place in October in Chile, the MSVU Faculty of Education also had a goal to promote science literacy to a new generation of students. To do this, they worked alongside the MSVU Library to collect solar eclipse glasses used in April that could be re-used in Chile. Through a combination of donations from the MSVU community and East St. Margaret’s Consolidated Elementary School, they were successful in collecting 350 pairs of glasses throughout April and May with 285 of them being considered fit to reuse.
Thanks to these donations, students 11,000 kilometers away at Colegio Hermano Eugenio Eyraud in Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile were able to enjoy the annular solar eclipse that took place on October 2, 2024. Easter Island was the best spot on Earth to safely enjoy the annular eclipse. With students marveling at the “ring of fire” illuminating the sky, it was clear that the MSVU Faculty of Education STEM Outreach had successfully inspired many future astronomers and scientists.
A special thanks to students and staff at East St. Margaret’s Consolidated Elementary School, first-year elementary Bachelor of Education students, the MSVU library, and the Faculty of Education for making this possible.
For any questions and concerns, please contact Dr. Gerald Tembrevilla, MSVU Faculty of Education.