Seminar Description
Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are essential to fostering a holistic, accessible, and representative approach to chemistry education. This webinar panel will showcase the initiatives of three Canadian chemistry educators who are actively embedding EDI principles into their teaching practices and departmental curricula. Panelists will share insights into the challenges and successes they have encountered in implementing EDI-focused strategies, with examples from their respective institutions. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A, providing participants the opportunity to engage with the panelists and explore ways to integrate EDI into their own educational environments.
Bios
Christina Booker, PhD (University of Western Ontario)
Dr. Christina Booker is a teaching scholar and assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at Western University and teaches in the Integrated Science program. She is passionate about engaging students in their learning, building problem-solving skills, and fostering a sense of belonging for students in science. For the past three years she served as the Lucas Family Women in Science Distinguished Scholar at Western, supporting and promoting women in science. Singing, hiking, and biking with her family are some of Christina’s favourite activities.
John De Backere, PhD (University of Toronto)
John De Backere is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream at the University of Toronto, where he primarily teaches inorganic chemistry and first-year general chemistry courses. His scholarly interests lie at the intersection of inorganic chemistry and chemistry education, with a particular focus on laboratory instruction and course-based research experiences, green and sustainable chemistry, and the integration of innovative learning technologies. Since 2021, John has been an active member of the departmental Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee, and he recently collaborated on the development and implementation of an asynchronous EDI workshop for first-year students at the St. George campus.
Pallavi Sirjoosingh, PhD (McGill University)
Pallavi Sirjoosingh is a senior faculty lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at McGill University. She is part of the Chemistry Education Research group and was a member of the 2023 cohort of the Inclusive Teaching Initiative at McGill University. She is interested in understanding inclusive teaching and assessment practices that affect student/teacher motivation and engagement.