Why We Give: Nicole and Paul Geyer

Our 2022 Patron is Walter Segsworth! Read his story here.

Our Why We Give series spotlights donors and why they support our non-profit organization.

Eureka!

Twenty years ago, Science World was raising money to renew Eureka!, our gallery devoted to bringing the science of physics to life.

Paul Geyer had just founded Medical Ventures (Neovasc), his second medical devices company, after growing his first to 200 employees and exiting in 1999.

Science World’s Development team approached Paul to see if he had interest in becoming a donor, inviting him to meet then-President Bryan Tisdall and take a tour.

As he explored the dome, Paul learned there was no life sciences gallery. As a leader in Vancouver’s growing biotech industry, he understood acutely the need to spark curiosity for this field in local youth.

“We had some good green talent coming out of the universities here,” Paul explains, “but not as much in the biomedical engineering field. A gallery would be a great way to engage kids at a young age, which could lead them to a great career.”

After the tour, Paul pledged $50,000 to Eureka! Gallery and another $50,000 of seed money to develop a plan for interactive exhibits devoted to human health. He brought friends and colleagues to the table, such as Doctors Julia Levy and the late Don Rix, to consult.

The ultimate result was BodyWorks, Science World’s first gallery featuring the science of the human body. Since its original iteration, the space has educated millions on the aging process; our organ and skeletal systems; and reproductive science.

Paul and wife Nicole have been Science World donors ever since, being named Patrons in 2014 and 2018 respectively. Paul also sits on our Advisory council.

Ideas Brewing

When Paul started his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering at UBC, he moved into a fraternity house on UBC campus.

It would be the source of two great loves that would change his life.

The first, an undergraduate science student named Nicole whom he met at a first-year mixer. His offer to tutor her in Calculus ended with less-than-stellar results.

“But when he went home for summer, I retook the course and got an A,” Nicole says.

“Because of the great groundwork I laid!” Paul laughs.

The second, the topic of his fourth-year thesis.

With the head of biomedical engineering as his thesis advisor, Paul built what he calls a “crude breathalyser” and “did a lot of testing around the frat house during parties.”

“Initially, it was just a fun project,” he says.

But he followed the fun into more research, and eventually had a hand in developing several devices as a student, such as a limb-load monitor that measured weight distribution on legs, and a testicular cooling device to help people who use wheelchairs retain reproductive viability.

“That's how I chose this path,” Paul says. “I found building electronics to measure biomedical signals and determine health diagnostics just so intriguing.”

When he started his first business, a tissue heart valve company called Mitroflow, his thesis advisor came on as a business partner and investor.

For the Love of Science

“What I love most about supporting Science World,” says Nicole, “is that it’s for everyone.”

As Board Chair at two non-profits, and Director for several others, Nicole—who was nominated for a 2022 YWCA Women of Distinction award—chooses causes that have far-reaching benefits beyond the immediate service or activity at hand.

“What’s so beautiful about Science World,” she says, “is that a child may not know they’re engaging in pure science, and yet their mind and understanding of the world is shaped to think scientifically.”

She witnessed her own young children explore Science World’s galleries and grow up to pursue careers in tech and kinesiology.

“Much to Paul’s chagrin, they aren’t engineers,” she laughs.

“Though I tried!” Paul exclaims.

For Nicole, recent climate disasters in BC and the ongoing pandemic have only sharpened her resolve about the importance of expanding the impact of Science World.

“Regardless of the field you end up in—if you pursue arts or humanities—science should be at the basis of everyone’s education. Our life’s survival depends on it. Without science, we’re toast.”

Join Nicole and Paul and help fund the future.

Donate today.