Connecting People, Ideas & Science

Gairdner Connects is the Gairdner Foundation’s national outreach program, bringing science to communities across Canada. Through interactive events, discussions, and digital resources, we inspire future innovators and spark public dialogue about the role of research in tackling the health challenges we face as a global society. Partnering with over 20 universities, we engage more than 6,000 students annually, fostering meaningful connections between Gairdner Award-winning scientists and the next generation of researchers.  STay Connected

Is There A Program Near You?

Click on the map to view our Gairdner Connects Events across Canada to see if we're in a city near you!

Gairdner Connects Partnerships

Gairdner Connects collaborates with leading national and international organizations to expand access to science education, amplify student voices, and build inclusive learning pathways. Through co-designed programming, content development, and direct engagement with young people, these partnerships extend our reach into classrooms, youth organizations, and public science spaces across Canada and beyond. Explore our partners below to learn more about shared initiatives, events, and student-focused resources.

Frontiers for Young Minds: 2025 Gairdner Award Winners Collection

Frontiers for Young Minds (FYM), the award-winning science engagement platform for kids, has partnered again with the Gairdner Foundation, to publish a new volume of articles featuring this year’s top researchers in biomedical and human health sciences.

In the new FYM Gairdner Awards Collection, the 2025 laureates share their breakthrough science for a young audience – all peer-reviewed by FYM’s unique community of Young Reviewers aged 8-15, to ensure the articles are clear and fun-to-read for others their age. Through the articles, young readers are enabled to learn about the future of human health, while the young reviewers also learn about the scientific process, empowering tomorrow’s scientists to develop confidence and important critical thinking skills. 

Click the booklet below to read more!