Tuesday, June 9, 2026 | 2:30 p.m.

Bob McDonald is widely regarded as Canada’s leading science communicator. Throughout his 50-year-long career as an author, radio and television host, he made science accessible and engaging for the public.

McDonald began his career as a demonstrator at the Ontario Science Centre in 1972 before reaching national audiences as a CBC broadcaster. McDonald hosted Wonderstruck, an award-winning children’s science television program, as well as Quirks & Quarks, CBC Radio’s long-running weekly science show. He was a regular science correspondent on CBC Television and CBC News and authored seven books.

A recipient of numerous awards for science communication, McDonald was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011.

Beyond his national profile, McDonald also made an impact at the University of Victoria. He has served for several years as a judge for UVic’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) finals and has been a frequent invited speaker at public lectures. Notably, he was the master of ceremonies for the inaugural Faculty of Science Lipson Lecture in 2018 and the Lipson Lecturer himself in 2023.

McDonald’s long-standing commitment to science education, combined with his talent for communication, will be remembered throughout Canadian households for years to come.