Congratulations Dan Ruddy and students – Winners of the 2017 Science is Beautiful Contest

Dan Ruddy, a science teacher from St. Matthew Catholic High School in Ottawa, Ontario, and his students are the proud winners of the Science is Beautiful contest, put on by select Let’s Talk Science Outreach sites. Ruddy’s classroom entry was chosen in this cross Canada competition.

Science is Beautiful is an annual art contest that began at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University Let’s Talk Science Outreach sites as a way to bridge science and art. It aims to highlight the integration of art within science and gives students who are interested in both subjects a chance to discover how they intersect. The contest is open to Canadian students in Grades 9-12.

Ruddy derived inspiration for his piece from his classroom and his passion for science.

“The periodic table, in my opinion, should be considered one of the wonders of the world. It represents the combined work of some of the best minds on the planet. It is both beautiful in appearance and its logical layout.”

Reproducing the larger than life periodic table required the entire ceiling of Ruddy’s classroom using over 100 ceiling tiles. Ruddy says, “this massive periodic table is an immediate conversation starter with all my students. Whether discussing the trends of the periodic table or electron configurations, it allows me to connect and engage with my students. Not only does it give the classroom a distinctive character/feel, but it also serves to expand their scientific knowledge.”

Congratulations to Ruddy, his class and all the other students who participated in the Science is Beautiful contest this year!

Want to get involved? Learn more about the Science is Beautiful contest and submit an entry for the 2017-18 competition on the national contest page.