Living Lab

Participate in Scientific Studies and Witness Science in Action!

The Living Lab is a place where University of British Columbia researchers partner with Science World to learn about cognitive development in infants, children, and adolescents. Using methods that include picture books and video vignettes, the researchers gather data on fascinating questions like how old children are when they start understanding that other people are different from them (younger than you might think!). The activities last no more than 15 minutes, and sessions are always one-on-one.

Stopping into the Living Lab is a fantastic opportunity for children—and their parents—to see the scientific method at work from the point of input, and watch what researchers do with data to draw their conclusions. And because the visitors are the ones supplying the data, this is one science experiment no one is likely to forget!

UBC researchers are here every day and may introduce themselves to you during your visit. You can also visit them in the Living Lab to participate in a study or find out more about their research.

The Living Lab is funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Contact Us

If you would like to ask a member of the Living Lab a question about child development or about research you observed while visiting Science World, please send an email to the Living Lab Director, Dr. Andrew Baron: [email protected].

[email protected]

We will do our best to respond to your email within 72 hours.

Living Lab Online Resources

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Buddy the T-Rex

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Geodessy

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Western Dinosaur

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.