Zack Anderson (he/him)

About me

I was born/grew up in: I was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. I mostly grew up in Calgary, Alberta. I also spent time growing up in Trenton, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario.

I now live in: Cochrane, Alberta.

I completed my training/education at: University of Calgary, Bachelor of Zoology

What I do at work

I joke that my job is all emails and meetings. But really it is a leadership team position. I help grow a culture where the whole team works toward positive change. Ours is a culture of confidence, creativity, experimentation and curiosity. This allows our organization to change and grow all the time. We do this work in a way that earns the respect of the community. It also engages the entire community.

My job influences Spark’s reputation and the experiences people have when they visit. I lead Spark in providing excellent inspirational science experiences. These include school programs, community programming for youth and adults, Indigenous ways of knowing, and onsite science interpretation.

I use my science degree every day. Not only for random facts to make sure science is being infused throughout the organization! It has also influenced the way I think. I use observation and sound data to make decisions. These decisions affect the direction of the organization.

My main goal is to work with the Science Connections team to provide top-notch science-related experiences. Also, as team leader, I make sure all activities benefit Spark as a whole. I do this by building consensus and support between team members.

My career path is

When I was in school, I knew that I was going to work with animals. I set my sights on that. I completed a Zoology degree, worked customer service at the Calgary Zoo, and volunteered. Then I realized that I didn't want to be a zookeeper or work in animal care. Luckily, a chance encounter opened the door to an education career. I loved this and I was pretty good at it.

That set all the groundwork for my career. Like anybody else, I had roles that were not a good fit for me. I made the decisions that were best for me. Some resulted in steps back. But, in my case, I took one step back so I could take two forward.

I am motivated by

Our science communication work makes a huge impact on our audience. You never know what seed will grow into a love of science in the future. Or it could just be a new way of looking at something that stays with someone.

It is also great to work with a team that is so high performing. And they are wonderful human beings to boot! Getting to work at a science centre every day is pretty darn cool too. If I get tired of the computer, I can always go for a walk and see what a difference the building is making to people.

How I affect peoples’ lives

Well, I don't get to connect with our visitors very often. But I do get to influence the next generation of great science communicators. That matters a lot. Our team is a key part of creating excitement about science in our visitors.

Outside of work I

I love to be outdoors. My appreciation for nature and wildlife has never waned. I also like to travel to see the natural delights the world has to offer. I am lucky to have a career that allows me to do this. I also volunteer on the boards of the Alberta Museums Association and Campus Calgary Open Minds. These are somewhat work related.

My advice to others

Honestly, pursue your passions. Be open to new opportunities when they happen. I took some chances on roles. Some worked out and some didn't. But all of them led me to where I am now. Also, pay attention to the leaders around you. Do you think they are good or bad leaders? Why is that? What can you learn from this?