Loran University Challenge

Part of Albert Einstein’s brain can be found preserved in this university's lab.

• University of Toronto

• Queen's University

• McMaster University

• University of Guelph

Answer explanation

McMaster university acquired Einstein’s brain – actually about one-fifth of his brain in 14 pieces – from pathologist Thomas Harvey. Researchers have identified differences in the brain’s structure related to Einstein’s genius in spatial and mathematical thinking.

This university owns a 145-hectare parcel of Costa Rican cloud forest (photo above) called Las Nubes (“the clouds”), which was donated to the faculty of environmental sciences in 1998 by Woody Fisher for conservation and research.

• McGill University

• University of Alberta

• University of British Columbia

• York University

Answer explanation

York University's rainforest preserve is home to the Las Nubes Project, which supports research in areas such as tropical deforestation, sustainable development and biodiversity.

Below this university's campus, workers can travel between campus buildings using 21 kilometres of utility tunnels, some which date back to the 1920s.

• University of Calgary

• University of Alberta

• University of Saskatchewan

• University of Manitoba

Answer explanation

The tunnels underground the University of Alberta's main campus are so wide that staff can drive small motorcycle through them! The tunnels have never opened to the public, nor the student, though, at least not known to the university.

One of the more familiar sights on this university's campus is the happy-face observatory dome on the roof of the Elliott Building. Student pranksters painted the two eyes on the dome in 1969, and the smile was added later.

• University of Toronto

• University of Victoria

• University of Guelph

• University of King's College

Answer explanation

The Climenhaga observatory at the University of Victoria was named after astrophysicist John Climenhaga, founder of UVic’s physics department, who was adamant that an on-campus observatory be part of UVic’s astronomy program.

The founders of six major universities are alumni from this Canadian university.

• McGill University

• University of Toronto

• Queen's University

• Dalhousie University

Answer explanation

The six universities founded by McGill alumni are the University of British Columbia, Victoria University, University of Alberta, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Dawson College.

In 2007, physicists at this university provided the first scientific evidence for the presence of water on Mars.

• University of Alberta

• University of Guelph

• University of Manitoba

• University of Saskatchewan

Answer explanation

University of Guelph's Iain Campbell led this research and rather than existing in pools, the water they found is trapped in sub-surface soil on the red planet, which is most likely the remnants of oceans or pools that evaporated.

Three paediatricians from this university developed Pablum, the first precooked cereal for babies, packed with vitamins and minerals.

• University of Victoria

• University of New Brunswick

• Université Laval

• University of Toronto

Answer explanation

Frederick Tisdall, Theodore Drake and Alan Brown, all graduates of University of Toronto’s faculty of medicine, developed this food for babies as the Depression was on its way. Royalties from the patent helped fund research at SickKids for years.

The name of this university is derived from the fact that its establishment was to commemorate those who died in the First World War

• Dalhousie University

• University of New Brunswick

• Memorial University

• Mount Allison University

Answer explanation

At the end of 1945, Memorial University was rededicated to commemorate the many Newfoundlanders who died during the Second World War.

The Séminaire de Québec was key in setting this university up.

• Université Laval

• Université de Montréal

• Université de Sherbrooke

• McGill University

Answer explanation

Université Laval's name comes from the Séminaire's founder, François de Laval. The university traces its roots from 1663 making it the oldest centre of higher education in Canada and the first North American institution to offer higher education in French.

When this university's Mathematics and Computer Building celebrated its official opening in 1968, a giant 85-foot pink tie appeared on the outside of the building as a tribute to professor Ralph Stanton (1923-2010), founder of the faculty of mathematics and a fan of colourful ties.

• Western University

• University of Ottawa

• University of Waterloo

• Queen's University

Answer explanation

The tradition of hanging a tie on the outside of the University of Waterloo's Mathematics and Computer Science building continued for many years despite vandalism and theft by other faculties. Now, every new math student gets a pink tie to wear during orientation.