Description
Throughout the semester, at a time convenient to you, your assignment is to attend a lecture watch a relevant documentary or perform independent research related to a new perspective on science and scientists. You might wish to pursue learning about a non-western type of mathematics, or you might want to attend a talk or watch a documentary on female representation in science. You can choose something that both interests you and at the same time broadens your perspective and appreciation for the need for equity, diversity and inclusion in the sciences. Your assignment is to complete one of the 3 above tasks and write a brief (1/2 page to 1 page) reflection on your experience. In your reflection you should explain what topic you decided to choose and how you learned about it and then describe your experience. If you are having trouble writing your reflection, you will find a page with some prompting questions for you to answer. They are not required but rather, are there as suggestions if you need them. You can also find a schedule of the upcoming relevant talks held in the faculty of Science. This fill will be updated as zoom links and topics become available. The assignment will not be marked for grammar or spelling. It will be marked for completion. If you complete one of the above activities and make an honest attempt at writing a reflection piece then you will receive your full grade.
Ideas for Reflection Paper:
The following ideas are just those, ideas. For those of you who, like me, struggle
to write, you might find the provided questions helpful while writing your
reflection piece on your experience working on an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
assignment as a part of your course. Whether you attended a talk on Math from a
different culture, or researched a different kind of math on your own. Whether
you attended a talk on representation of women in Science, or researched a
famous female scientist on your own. The purpose of this assignment is to
broaden our perspectives outside of the traditional western classroom setting. To
see the world of science in a new way. I hope that you found this exercise both
educational and rewarding.
Possible Questions you could answer in your reflection piece:
• What sort of exposure to non-western science have you had in your past?
• How do you think equity, diversity and inclusion should be included in a
university?
• What did you learn from attending this talk, watching this movie, or
researching this topic?
• Did you find your perspective has changed? Remained the same?
• Did you discover anything surprising or unexpected from participating in
this assignment? How so?