While the annual Science Formal is one of the major celebrations for students in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, it’s also an opportunity for the Queen’s students to give back to the community.

Each year, the engineering students put their talents together to transform Grant Hall into a design of their choosing – this year’s theme is Land of the Olympians – with a large, intricate structure as the centerpiece. The event is being held this Saturday night.

It takes countless planks of wood, cans of paint, screws and hours of work but the project, the planning of which started in January, is nearing completion and will be ready for the big reveal this Saturday.

“It feels incredible being this close to the event. This is supposed to be a really stressful time, and there is stress with all the deadlines, but it has gone so smoothly. We’re on time for everything, all of our projects that we are doing,” says convener Laura McConnell, adding that tradition is a key element for the event, now in its 113^th edition. “It’s so exciting to see all of your plans that you had on paper suddenly come to life.”

Ahead of the celebration, Grant Hall will be opened to the public for tours from 10 am to 3 pm and entry is by donation to help support the United Way of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington. Over the past 12 years the Science Formal Open House has raised over $14,000 for the United Way.

For more information about the Queen’s Science Formal, visit scienceformal.ca.