Science at the crossroads of creativity and ethics

A common image that crosses the mind while thinking about cell biology is simply watching and studying cells under a microscope. But Dr. Robin Young, Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of Biology of the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science at UBC Okanagan, has redefined this conventional perception of the discipline through a thoughtful convergence of three seemingly disparate areas: research, ethics and creativity.

Traditionally, cell biology courses have laid great emphasis on grades and exams. But Robin designs projects to help her students make strong connections between biology and justice. “I want to ensure that my students’ projects are topical, so I focus on issues that are relevant in the current news,” she says. “The Black Lives Matters movement that came to light in 2020 was a perfect opportunity to remind my students of the types of disparities that exist in scientific research. It gave us a chance to talk about why certain topics are traditionally covered while others have been overlooked or left out of our textbooks. We talked about how scientific research has perpetuated racism by not embracing diversity to the extent that it should, and is therefore not a level-playing field for under-represented minorities. As a teacher, I want my students to understand the underlying injustices that exist in the subject, by challenging stereotypes and looking at it through a lens of ethics, diversity and inclusion.”

She says, “Even scientists need to be able to communicate within the world they operate in! What is the point of making scientific discoveries if you cannot explain them to people? Subject matter expertise is undoubtedly crucial, but it’s equally important to learn how to communicate and solve problems. I teach content that will allow my students to strengthen these essential skills that will carry them forward.”

It comes as no surprise that the favourite aspect of Robin’s role is her students. She enjoys watching them analyze complex topics, draw their own inferences and present their ideas in unconventional ways that are a departure from the norm. “Students go to all lengths while working on their projects, and I feel so happy that they are receptive to this learning approach. Inspired by these lessons, two of my students went on to build a virtual conference called Sciversifyduring the pandemic, where they invited scientists to collaborate with students, with the vision of making science more comprehensible and accessible to a diverse audience. I feel so proud to see my students making an impact in the world, shining beyond the classroom, and taking their learnings forward.”