10 Must-Sees at Edmonton’s TELUS World of Science

A boy enters a “treehouse” hallway in CuriousCITY to see some Edmonton landmarks.

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Want to have a blast with the family and learn something along the way? Edmonton's Telus World of Science has you covered.

Its enormous planetarium is the largest of its kind in Canada.
Construct a flying machine or try landing a lunar vehicle.
The after-hours music and laser shows are thrilling for all ages.

Discover a scientist's top 10 picks at TELUS World of Science in Edmonton. Kids and adults have been visiting TELUS World of Science for decades to get nerdy and do cool stuff. Here are the must-sees from scientist Alan Nursall, who is president and CEO of the science centre.

1. An aurora show of epic proportions

Enter Canada's largest planetarium dome, lay back, and get ready for a supernatural light show. The Zeidler Dome is 23 m (almost 80 ft) in diameter. And it's one of the warmest ways to experience the aurora borealis in Alberta. Learn what those northern lights are all about in immersive 10K resolution (a typical movie theatre is just 2K).

After hours, the Zeidler Dome hosts laser shows. The light show in the dome is an unbeatable way to experience mega stars like Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.

Science centre visitors lay back and watch the aurora borealis on a big screen above. — The view of the night sky in the Zeidler Dome might look even realer than reality.

2. See a real moon rock

Humanity changed forever when we set foot on the moon. Seeing a chunk of moon firsthand can make that achievement feel ultra-relevant. The dill pickle-sized piece of moon rock on display in the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery came to earth on Apollo 15 by Commander Dave Scott.

"All we could do from Earth looking up at the moon is speculate," Nursall says. "But when you bring the rock back you bring back the real information, the real data that can be analyzed."

A 12-minute show tells the journey of how this piece of outer space got here. It explains why the moon rock is not only cool, but is consequential for our species.

Check out a genuine piece of the moon, brought back on the Apollo 15 mission.

3. Take a cheek swab in the Health Zone

What's living in your mouth? In Learning About Biology (L.A.B.), visitors swab their own cheeks and examine what they find under a microscope. Other hands-on demos and activities bring biochemistry and biology to life — pun intended.

"You learn some basics of cell structure," Nursall says. "It’s a chance to see inside yourself in a way you wouldn’t normally be able to."

Kids wearing lab coats look at a computer in the Health Zone at the TELUS science centre. — The L.A.B. offers hands-on ways to learn about the body.

4. Fly a lunar lander in the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery

Blast off in one of the two lunar landers ready to fly in the S.P.A.C.E. Gallery.

In one spacecraft, budding astronauts travel with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Apollo 11 mission. The other has been at TELUS World of Science for decades, and it's still a favourite.

"I’ll be honest, they’re video games," Nursall says. "But they’re video games in the service of science."

Science Centre visitors use a video game to simulate flying in space. — It's one small step toward that dream of becoming an astronaut when you test your flying skills in the S.P.A.C.E Gallery.

5. Watch an IMAX film on Alberta's largest screen

"On the big screen" feels like an understatement at the science centre's IMAX theatre. Seeing a movie on a screen that's four stories high and seven stories wide is a full-body experience. Showings include science and nature documentaries and Hollywood blockbusters.

Sensory-friendly showings are available and have quieter sound and ambient lighting. This means all audiences can enjoy an epic movie together.

A family watches a movie at the science centre's IMAX theatre. — A little different from cozying up in the living room. Watch a superhero blockbuster or documentary on the massive IMAX screen.

6. Climb through the treehouses in CuriousCITY

Visitors ages six and under can explore treehouse versions of local landmarks. They can crawl through the Edmonton river valley, direct traffic at the Edmonton International Airport and make lighting displays for the High Level Bridge. Whether they're practicing to be city planners or Spider-Man, the little ones are bound to find fun in this mini city.

7. Swap nature finds for prizes

Bring seashells, nature sketches, dead bugs, or flowers to the Nature Exchange and study them to learn new things. Each new fact earns points to trade for goodies like meteorite fragments or geodes.

"It's all about connecting to the world outside the science centre," Nursall says.

A family checks out an exhibit of geodes and crystals in the Nature Centre. — What's the story behind the strange rock you found in the backyard? Bring it in for research at the Nature Exchange.

8. Build a flying machine in a wind tunnel

A towering vertical wind tunnel is the perfect place to test a flying machine! The Science Garage holds high tech (laser cutter and 3D printer!) and low tech (yarn and paper cups) tools and materials for all kinds of projects. Engineers can test their inventions in the six-metre (almost 20-foot) tall wind tunnel or tackle on other building challenges.

A young girl smiles and watches an object floating in a wind tunnel at the TELUS World of Science. — Air moves faster over a curved surface. Now, can you use that information to build a flying machine that works better than your kid's?

9. Visit the Galaxy Gift Shop

Astronaut ice cream, anyone? The Galaxy Gift Shop is stocked with hands-on science kits, space puzzles, freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches, and more. There's something to bring home the sense of wonder sparked by every exhibit.

A family checks out a science book from a display in the TELUS World of Science gift shop. — Toys and games that are weird, educational, fun — and a little messy — can all be found in the Galaxy Gift Shop.

10. Learn about Indigenous cultures

Visit the Indigenous Traditional Room, a welcoming venue for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Speak with a First Nations Elder or Métis Knowledge Keeper and take in the art on display. The room's goal is to build relationships with Indigenous communities in Edmonton and Northern Alberta.

Young visitors look at Indigenous textile in the Indigenous Traditional Room at the TELUS World of Science. — Edmonton is in Treaty 6 territory. In the Indigenous Traditional Room, visitors can enjoy art, hear stories, and speak with an elder.