Student-Curated Informal Learning and Engagement Spaces (SCI-LEnS): Developing a New Course for STEM Graduate Students

TitleStudent-Curated Informal Learning and Engagement Spaces (SCI-LEnS): Developing a New Course for STEM Graduate Students
Faculty/College/UnitScience
StatusActive
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2022
Project Summary

The SCI-LEnS project aims to develop a new graduate course that will build an informal learning space paradigm at UBC. In collaboration with museum professionals, students will explore best practices and pedagogical approaches for creating effective public-facing content in science museums. A key project goal is to shift the lens through which scientists engage with public audiences. By placing students at the nexus of this transformative shift, we hope to train the next generation of researchers to reimagine their delivery of complex, cutting-edge science to public audiences, future colleagues, students, and the broader scientific community. SCI-LEnS will provide experiential learning opportunities for students through the creation/curation of outreach activities in the Pacific Museum of Earth. With guidance from UBC Indigenous scholars, students will explore ways to respectively incorporate Indigenous perspectives and knowledge into museum settings as well as how to navigate the changing dynamics of Indigenous relations in scientific research.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2022/2023
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorKirsten Hodge
Year 1: Funded Amount23,970
Year 1: Team Members

Kirsten Hodge, Lecturer, Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) / Museum Director, Pacific Museum of Earth, Faculty of Science
David Anderson, Professor, Curriculum and Pedagogy / Director, Master of Museum Education, Faculty of Education
Laura Lukes, Assistant Professor, EOAS, Faculty of Science
Shandin Pete, Assistant Professor of Teaching, EOAS, Faculty of Science

UBC Consultants:

Jill Baird, Curator of Education, Museum of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts
Skooker Broome, Exhibition Designer, Museum of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts
Jackie Chambers, Education and Outreach Manager, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Faculty of Science
Damara Jacobs-Petersen, Curator, Indigenous Programming, Museum of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts
Yukiko Stranger-Galey, Exhibits Manager, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Faculty of Science
Louise Longridge, Lecturer, EOAS, Faculty of Science
Lucy Porritt, Lecturer, EOAS, Faculty of Science
Derek Tan, Digital Media Specialist, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Faculty of Science
Ashley Welsh, Faculty Liaison, Science, Skylight, Faculty of Science and Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology

External UBC Consultants:

Tom Cummins, Exhibits Director, Science World (Vancouver)
Michael Fairchild-Simms, Exhibition Manager / Interpretive Planner, Science World (Vancouver)
Catherine Po, Exhibit Content Developer (freelance)

Year 1: TLEF ShowcaseYear 1: TLEF Showcase
Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2023/2024
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorKirsten Hodge
Year 2: Funded Amount26,030
Year 2: Team Members

Kirsten Hodge, Lecturer, EOAS / Museum Director, Pacific Museum of Earth, Faculty of Science
David Anderson, Professor, Curriculum and Pedagogy / Director, Master of Museum Education, Faculty of Education
Laura Lukes, Assistant Professor, EOAS, Faculty of Science
Shandin Pete, Assistant Professor of Teaching, EOAS, Faculty of Science

UBC Consultants:

Jill Baird, Curator of Education, Museum of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts
Jackie Chambers, Education and Outreach Manager, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Faculty of Science
Damara Jacobs-Petersen, Curator, Indigenous Programming, Museum of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts
Louise Longridge, Lecturer, EOAS, Faculty of Science
Lucy Porritt, Lecturer, EOAS, Faculty of Science
Derek Tan, Digital Media Specialist, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, Faculty of Science
Ashley Welsh, Interim Associate Director, Skylight, Faculty of Science and Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology

External UBC Consultants:

Tom Cummins, Exhibits Director, Science World (Vancouver)
Michael Fairchild-Simms, Exhibition Manager / Interpretive Planner, Science World (Vancouver)
Catherine Po, Exhibit Content Developer (freelance)
Yukiko Stranger-Galey, Sr. Consultant, Barker Langham
Wylee Fitz-Gerald, Indigenous Consultant