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Abstract

In this article, I detail my involvement in sociopolitical conversations as a science education researcher. I present two of the controversies in which I have been involved in recent years: Metal dust from the Port of Québec (Quebec, Canada) and the Maillé case (the case of a researcher who has to hand over to a private company her research data including the confidential information of the participants who confided to her in interviews). I conclude the article by emphasizing the importance and difficulty of the sociopolitical commitment of researchers.
Vol.:(0123456789)
Cultural Studies of Science Education (2019) 14:293–301
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-019-09912-3
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Speaking outaboutinequities
ChantalPouliot1
Received: 6 October 2017 / Accepted: 1 March 2018 / Published online: 23 April 2019
© Springer Nature B.V. 2019
Abstract
In this article, I detail my involvement in sociopolitical conversations as a science educa-
tion researcher. I present two of the controversies in which I have been involved in recent
years: Metal dust from the Port of Québec (Quebec, Canada) and the Maillé case (the case
of a researcher who has to hand over to a private company her research data including the
confidential information of the participants who confided to her in interviews). I conclude
the article by emphasizing the importance and difficulty of the sociopolitical commitment
of researchers.
Keywords Inequities· Controversies· Participation· Citizens
Résumé
Dans cet article, je détaille ma participation aux conversations sociopolitiques à titre de
chercheure en éducation aux sciences. Je présente deux des controverses dans lesquelles je
me suis impliquée dans les dernières années: celle autour des poussières métalliques prov-
enant du Port de Québec (Québec, Canada) et l’Affaire Maillé (le cas d’une chercheure qui
doit remettre à une entreprise privée ses données de recherche incluant les informations con-
fidentielles relatives aux participants qui se sont confiés à elle dans le cadre d’entretiens). Je
termine l’article en soulignant l’imporance et la difficulté de l’engagement sociopolitique
des chercheurs.
If you are a person concerned with the state of the world, enraged by inequity,
fuelled by the desire to do something, chances are you’re a ‘feminist killjoy’
(Erin Wunker, Notes from A Feminist Killjoy 2016, p. 33).
February 3, 2017. The main entrance door to the school closes behind me. Outside - the
air is cold and dry, the sunlight, too bright. I take a few steps… then stop. My feet feel
Lead editor: A. J. Rodriguez and B. Upadhyay.
This manuscript is part of the special issue Equity in Science Teacher Education: Toward an Expanded
Definition, guest edited by Brian Fortney, Deb Morrison, Alberto J. Rodriguez and Bhaskar Upadhyay.
* Chantal Pouliot
chantal.pouliot@fse.ulaval.ca
1 Département d’études sur l’enseignement et l’apprentissage, Université Laval, 2325 Rue de
l’Université, Québec, QCG1V0A6, Canada
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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Protection des sources
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