Job is fun, not work, CBC broadcaster tells UTM audience

Bob McDonald, host of CBC Radio’s weekly Quirks & Quarks science show, urged the students in the audience at the Sept. 15 Snider lecture to “get paid for having fun,” something he does regularly.

He illustrated his point by showing a video clip of himself experiencing weightlessness during a zero gravity flight designed to simulate the astronaut experience. As he gleefully turned somersaults in the airplane’s cabin, it became clear that the veteran broadcaster finds his job to be a delight.

McDonald hadn’t expected employment to be so enjoyable when he started out working as a truck driver. However, his girlfriend at the time, who worked at the Ontario Science Centre, heard about an opportunity to do one-man science shows there. Since McDonald had done some theatre in school, she thought he’d be a natural. McDonald paid a call on the manager doing the hiring, got the job and soon found himself engaging audiences with his electricity demonstrations.

“Sometimes, opportunities come along and you can grab them or you can give yourself 100 reasons why things won’t work out,” McDonald said.

McDonald chose to grab hold of opportunity with both hands. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, the leading centre for robotic exploration of the solar system, was preparing to release  information gathered by the robot they had sent to Mars, and McDonald asked his boss at the Ontario Science Centre for the funding to attend. When he was turned down, McDonald wrote himself a letter of introduction on centre letterhead, took vacation time and travelled to the Jet Propulsion Lab seeking a press pass. He was admitted and found himself to be one of the only Canadians in attendance.

Shortly afterward, CBC-TV called the science centre looking for someone to explain the Mars program to its viewers. McDonald volunteered; the producer was impressed with his performance and invited him to come back. Next, Canada A.M. called, and he was off to the races.

“I kept doing it and one thing led to another,” McDonald said. Now, more than 35 years later, he is still explaining science to the general public and loving it. “It’s basic storytelling,” he said of his interviews with experts. “I make sure it’s flowing.”

McDonald’s most recent endeavour is a book, Canadian Spacewalkers, about the three Canadian astronauts who have done spacewalks: Chris Hadfield, Steve MacLean and Dave Williams. McDonald impressed the UTM audience with some of the video footage of Earth that the men took from the space station at night, and he discussed the challenges of working in a zero gravity environment in an ungainly spacesuit. The Northern Lights, the Canadarm and training for spacewalks all came into play as McDonald talked about the work done by these three men, all with his trademark enthusiasm.

His excitement and love of science made an impression on the attendees.

“I thought it was spectacular to have an opportunity to see Bob McDonald in person and watch his footage and hear his stories,” said Kaitlin McNeil, a second-year physics student.

As a child, Emily Bowyer, a first-year life sciences student, watched Heads Up, a children’s television show about space that McDonald hosted on TVO.

“It was really cool to see him,” she said. “He has a really good insider perspective on going into space.”