a gap worth closingCSA started with a straightforward observation: Calgary has brilliant scientists, talented artists, and a community that's genuinely curious about the world - but not enough spaces where those three things actually meet.
We exist to close that gap. To bring hands-on, genuinely accessible STEAM experiences into the parks, libraries, breweries, and living rooms of this city. And to do it in a way that's rooted here - in Calgary's ecology, its neighbourhoods, and its people. "Science communication is only meaningful when it reaches the people who weren't already in the room. That's who we build for." 
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Founder's Statement"Arts and Science are two sides of the same coin and neither can be learnt or experienced in isolation. When I think back on my early school years, I cannot remember most of what I learnt but I do remember how learning made me feel - I remember being challenged by mathematics, being fascinated by biology, being frustrated by physics because of how it was taught, and so on. Through CSA, I want to help Calgarians connect with the city by focusing not just on observing and learning all amazing things about our city, but also by focusing on how this makes them feel."
- Dr. Viraj Rajendra Muthye |
Viraj Muthye is a bioinformatician, science communicator, and the founder of Creative Science Alliance. He has a PhD in Bioinformatics and over 12 years of experience working at the intersection of science and people - from identifying rare diseases at Alberta Precision Laboratories to leading workshops for graduate students on how to say less and mean more.
He started CSA because he believes the skills that make science work - curiosity, careful observation, creative thinking - belong to everyone, not just people with lab access. Every CSA program is an attempt to give that back. He also writes a science communication newsletter, runs @awesomebiology on Instagram, and has published a poetry book and 12 peer-reviewed articles - which is a combination he finds entirely on-brand.
He started CSA because he believes the skills that make science work - curiosity, careful observation, creative thinking - belong to everyone, not just people with lab access. Every CSA program is an attempt to give that back. He also writes a science communication newsletter, runs @awesomebiology on Instagram, and has published a poetry book and 12 peer-reviewed articles - which is a combination he finds entirely on-brand.
a few things we believe
- We pay people. CSA does not run on volunteers. Every artist, facilitator, and collaborator is compensated for their work - including students. If we can't afford to pay someone fairly, we don't ask them to work for free. Effort deserves recognition, full stop. This has been a founding principle for the CSA.
- We stay local. Every program, every collaborator, every partner is based in Calgary. We're not building a national brand. We're building a community - and communities are specific places with specific people.
- We keep it accessible. Pricing is kept as low as we can make it sustainable. No one should be priced out of curiosity.
- We make things, not just talks. Every CSA program ends with something physical - a zine, a sketch, a discovery, a photograph. Tangible outcomes matter. They travel with people after the session ends.
our partners and collaborators
Nicole Gruszecki - Artist & Collaborator Nicole is the Calgary artist behind CSA's signature zine kits — the hand-designed materials that participants use in our science communication and zine-making workshops. Her work brings a warmth and craft to the programs that no off-the-shelf kit could replicate. We're proud to collaborate with a local artist whose practice genuinely intersects with ours.
I have truly enjoyed collaborating with the Creative Science Alliance. Their dedication to making science more accessible is extremely admirable. Their passion comes through in everything they do. I have loved being able to combine the art kits I sell with this program.
- Nicole Gruszecki, Artist
Host-Parasite Interactions Group - University of Calgary The HPI Group at UCalgary has been instrumental in CSA's growth from the beginning - providing connections, early funding, and the kind of institutional support that turns an idea into something real. Their belief in community-rooted science outreach made a meaningful difference. In particular, we ar extremely grateful for the support of Dr. James Wasmuth and Dr. Constance Finney.
Our partnership with the Creative Science Alliance has been incredibly valuable. We regularly share outreach materials and ideas, and their resources are consistently thoughtful, creative, and easy to adapt for different audiences. Their enthusiasm for public engagement really shows at events, and it makes collaborating both productive and fun. We’re so happy to keep teaming up with them for outreach events in Calgary.
- Constance Finney, Community Outreach Team member for the Host Parasite Interactions Group
Graduate College - University of Calgary The Graduate College has been a key partner in bringing CSA's science communication programs to UCalgary's graduate student community. Their support has given CSA access to one of the most important audiences we serve: researchers who have something worth saying and deserve the tools to say it well. The Graduate College has connected us with invaluable resources and connections in the community.
bringing the csa to your community
Whether you're a school, a community centre, a brewery, a research department, or just someone with a backyard and a curious kid - we'd love to hear from you! We can tailor events for you.
