Science in the City
Science in the City is a four-year education adventure funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council. It brings together an intergenerational group of researchers; three classes of extraordinary elementary students working with their teachers, 7 university-based researchers (1 professor, 4 doctorate students and 2 masters students), parents and local organisations. Our goal was to come together, learn science and technology and make a difference to the lives of friends, families and communities and environments surrounding our research centre, located in Ryerson Community Public School. In an educational environment that is too often marginalised, we created an experience that sparked our imaginations, curiosity and confirmed our role as caring, responsible citizens. In 2007, we planned and collaborated in a series of activities to make our praxis public. These included presentation in classes at Ryerson Public School and at our local school King Edward. We created a zine documenting our research and this was circulated in the local community – indeed, 100s of copies of the zine were distributed to our families, friends and local residents. It was also distributed in Faculties of Education at York and at the University of Toronto. We also made a series of national and international presentations at conferences, engaged with artists and activists through the Art gallery at York (AGYU), and published a series of peer reviewed chapters and articles.