Bringing Science and Democracy Together in the Classroom Panel
Science and evidence play a crucial role in our democracy, but are not often part of the conversation in the context of civic education. Fostering critical thinking, including basic skills to evaluate evidence, is necessary to prepare the youth of today to navigate the current infodemic and to participate in society as informed, engaged, responsible citizens. Join E4D and freelance journalist and children’s author, Joyce Grant, as we talk with representatives from Let’s Talk Science, CIVIX, and the Youth Climate Lab about ways to help youth navigate the intersection of science and democracy.
Moderator
Joyce Grant
Freelance Journalist, Children’s author; Owner, TeachingKidsNews.com
Joyce Grant is an award-winning children’s author with six books, including her latest, “CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? HOW TO SPOT FAKE NEWS AND FIND THE FACTS.” She is a freelance journalist and editor and a part-time communications professor at Humber College. She knows about how to spot fake news and she has good advice about how to talk to kids about challenging news. Since 2010, she has made the news accessible for kids through her award-winning website <a href="Joyce Grant is an award-winning children’s author with six books, including her latest, “CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? HOW TO SPOT FAKE NEWS AND FIND THE FACTS.” She is a freelance journalist and editor and a part-time communications professor at Humber College. She knows about how to spot fake news and she has good advice about how to talk to kids about challenging news. Since 2010, she has made the news accessible for kids through her award-winning website TeachingKidsNews.com.
Joyce Grant is an award-winning children’s author with six books, including her latest, “CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? HOW TO SPOT FAKE NEWS AND FIND THE FACTS.” She is a freelance journalist and editor and a part-time communications professor at Humber College. She knows about how to spot fake news and she has good advice about how to talk to kids about challenging news. Since 2010, she has made the news accessible for kids through her award-winning website <a href="Joyce Grant is an award-winning children’s author with six books, including her latest, “CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? HOW TO SPOT FAKE NEWS AND FIND THE FACTS.” She is a freelance journalist and editor and a part-time communications professor at Humber College. She knows about how to spot fake news and she has good advice about how to talk to kids about challenging news. Since 2010, she has made the news accessible for kids through her award-winning website TeachingKidsNews.com.
Panelists
Ken Boyd
Digital Media Literacy Program Manager, CIVIX
Ken Boyd is the Digital Media Literacy Program Manager at CIVIX, a Canadian charity that develops experiential learning programs to help students develop skills and habits of informed citizenship. He researches and develops materials for two programs: CTRL-F, an online verification skills program, and PoliTalks, a program that fosters constructive classroom discussions. He has a background in philosophy, and has worked on research projects about how we communicate with one another online, especially about scientific and political issues.
Ken Boyd is the Digital Media Literacy Program Manager at CIVIX, a Canadian charity that develops experiential learning programs to help students develop skills and habits of informed citizenship. He researches and develops materials for two programs: CTRL-F, an online verification skills program, and PoliTalks, a program that fosters constructive classroom discussions. He has a background in philosophy, and has worked on research projects about how we communicate with one another online, especially about scientific and political issues.
Isabel Deslauriers
Director of Youth and Volunteer Engagement, Let’s talk Science
Isabel Deslauriers is the Director, Youth and volunteer engagement, at Let’s Talk Science, an organization dedicated to youth development through STEM. She oversees youth programming including the Let’s Talk Science Outreach program and professional development for the post-secondary STEM students who volunteer through it. Working at Let's Talk Science, has given her a passion for working in the not for profit industry and making sure that all audiences are served by science outreach. She was originally brought to this type of work as a volunteer while studying electrical engineering.
Isabel Deslauriers is the Director, Youth and volunteer engagement, at Let’s Talk Science, an organization dedicated to youth development through STEM. She oversees youth programming including the Let’s Talk Science Outreach program and professional development for the post-secondary STEM students who volunteer through it. Working at Let's Talk Science, has given her a passion for working in the not for profit industry and making sure that all audiences are served by science outreach. She was originally brought to this type of work as a volunteer while studying electrical engineering.
Soomin Han
Student at the University of Manitoba and Finance Lead at the Youth Climate Lab
Driven by her passion for climate justice and lived experiences, Soomin engages in climate work with a focus on intersectionality, youth engagement, community care, and gender equity. Currently as a Climate Finance Lead at Youth Climate Lab, she supports climate justice work at both a local and international scale. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Environmental Studies at the University of Manitoba, and has worked with various environmental and justice-oriented non-profits, advocacy groups, serves on the board of directors for The Starfish Canada, and was named Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25.
Driven by her passion for climate justice and lived experiences, Soomin engages in climate work with a focus on intersectionality, youth engagement, community care, and gender equity. Currently as a Climate Finance Lead at Youth Climate Lab, she supports climate justice work at both a local and international scale. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Environmental Studies at the University of Manitoba, and has worked with various environmental and justice-oriented non-profits, advocacy groups, serves on the board of directors for The Starfish Canada, and was named Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25.
