GETTING TO KNOW... John Munro

Teachers who knew how to put the action into science are responsible for inspiring John Munro to pursue a career in science teaching. Chemistry kits, electronic labs and building sets were the toys he loved the most. Now, they are part of his job. "I strongly believe that science is an activity, and not just a pile of facts to be memorized," he says. "I believe that science is a verb, not just a noun", It's a motto he honours as teacher, presenter, author, and father.
John has spent a seventeen-year career working in small schools, and this has afforded him the opportunity to teach science at many levels. As a result, his experience spans the 8-12 science curriculum.
Science infiltrates family vacations as well. "Last summer I went on a two-month road trip across Canada with my wife and four kids, and I saw science at every turn. Whether is was massive seabird colonies, icebergs or boreal forests the science was there to explore and I loved nothing more than sharing it with my family...and no my kids didn't roll their eyes and complain about me making everything into a teachable moment."
In February, while the world's eyes were on the Vancouver Olympics, John lead a school mission team to Zambia, Africa. He is still adjusting from the culture shock, so go easy on him. At Catalyst he has two workshop offerings: "Science is a Verb" (ideas to bring action to science) and "Build-A-BOT" (constructing an operational 3-axis hydraulic robot). Be sure to come early as these workshops will likely fill quickly.