Shuting Wang
PhD Educational & Counselling Psychology
Tanenbaum Open Science Institute Fellow
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Fall
2024
Developing effective strategies to critically asses scientific methodologies
Tanenbaum Open Science Institute Fellow
Fall
2024

Background

I am currently a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at McGill. My background is in biotechnology and molecular biology, and I have been always interested in science education and science communication. My B21 project is focused on developing effective strategies to improve the accessibility of the methods of science.

UNESCO (2013) recognizes science as a paramount collective endeavor and one of the most important channels of knowledge. OECD/PISA defines scientific literacy as the inseparable connection between the knowledge about science and the knowledge about the processes by which scientific knowledge is developed. In today's intricate information landscape, the way we perceive knowledge and truth, which impacts our decision-making process, should be grounded in reliable methodological tools that enable us to objectively evaluate various claims. Despite a growing sense of mistrust in science, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the methods of science are still one of the best tools we have when our goal is to reduce uncertainty, increase prediction accuracy, and mitigate our own biases.

Improving the accessibility of the methods of science has the potential to enhance science literacy and foster a better understanding of knowledge. The possible outcome of this project may include greater community involvement in scientific research and a better understanding of socio-scientific issues, like climate change, evolution, and vaccination.

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