Page 241 - Cultural Studies of Science Education

Chapter 17
Invoking the Ontological Realm
of Place: A Dialogic Response

Jennifer D. Adams, Sheliza Ibrahim, and Miyoun Lim

In this response to Doug Karrow and Xavier Fazio’s chapter “Educating-Within-Place:
Care, Citizen Science, and Ecojustice,” we further discuss key issues presented by the
authors, especially regarding the ontological realm of place. To begin, we introduce
ourselves as science educators from diverse backgrounds in terms of our experiences
with place-based education. Using the NING social networking website as a discus-
sion platform, we draw on our experiences, things presented in the chapter, and our
expanding thoughts to engage in a discussion about what educating-in-place means
to us as science educators and researchers.

Introduction

Miyoun: Having interests and been engaged both in science education and environ-
mental education, I often face tensions and conflicts when in pursuit of both. “Place”
offers a basis and direction for me to continue: Place offers/becomes pedagogical
contexts where science education and environmental education can be pursued and
explored together and can become synergistic.
Sheliza: My relationship with PBE is very recent and continuously evolving.
I immersed myself in PBE research last year, using visual imagery to connect students
from an urban Toronto cityscape to science in their community. As I continue to
work within the field, I find that while PBE has a long tradition within environmental
education, it is limited in its use within science education. Recent research offers
much possibility and it is a progressive time for PBE in science education. As a result,
my experience with PBE is developing both practically and theoretically.

J.D. Adams
Brooklyn College, CUNY
S. Ibrahim
York University, Toronto, Ontario
M. Lim
Georgia State University

D.J. Tippins et al. (eds.), Cultural Studies and Environmentalism, 215
Cultural Studies of Science Education, Vol. 3, DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3929-3_17,
© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010