T11 - Opening Up the Undergraduate Science Classroom.
Session Description
Science and society are inextricably linked. Science touches our lives in so many ways: for example, we may wonder about the best way to lose weight, the safest treatment for multiple myeloma, or which pesticides are safe to use in the garden. And many wonder what kind of world we’ll leave for future generations. Our reliance on science makes trust in the reliability of that science and in the ability of policy makers to leverage it extremely important.
Just as Open Science hinges on transparency, accessibility, and replicability in the research process, its success as a movement relies on open dialogue and respectful engagement across research disciplines. Two fundamental questions drive this approach: (1) who will be impacted by scientific research?; and (2) how can we mobilize science to help create a more equitable society? Scientists of the future need to explore these questions throughout their education, long before they enter the field as professionals. For this reason, UBCO Library is partnering with the Department of Biology to engage undergraduate students not only in learning scientific methods, but also in co-creating a model of high-quality, transparent Open research that is respectful of the diverse stakeholders affected by academic research. We'll discuss the relationships we’ve forged with the Department of Biology and the specific course modules we plan to integrate into the undergraduate classroom.
Speakers
Sharon Hanna, BA, MLS, UBC Okanagan
Biography
As the half-time term Open Science Librarian at UBC Okanagan, Sharon is working with Mathew and with colleagues in the Biology department to weave undergraduate Open Science education into the undergraduate curriculum. She also serves as a tech advisor to the UBCO Archives and makes apps for them. Sharon spent many years as an NRC astronomy librarian in Victoria, BC, and is close to completing a degree in computer science.
Mathew Vis-Dunbar, MLIS, MAS, UBC Okanagan
Biography
Mathew Vis-Dunbar is the Southern Medical Program Librarian at UBC Okanagan, where he also works with Biology and the School of Health and Exercise Sciences. Promoting Open Scholarship and Open Science, Mathew works closely with colleagues across UBC, in undergraduate classrooms and research, to encourage the integration and use of Open Science tools and practice.