Laura Mazzino

2024-2026

Galileo Galilei published Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems in 1632, a publication that presented as a series of discussions among two philosophers and a layman in the topics of the previous system of knowledge (Ptolemy and Aristotle, traditional views) and the new way to see the solar system (Copernican position). The discussion is not narrowly limited to astronomical topics, but ranges over much of contemporary science.

In this UCalgary "21^st century spinoff" event, Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Ways of Knowing  establishes an 'oral' conversation and a respectful dialogue between Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and Physicists.

The goals of the projects are:

• To honour the Indigenous Nations that lived for thousands of years in the land that our university was recently built.
• To provide background information of Indigenous Science (land/oral based) and Non-Indigenous Science (lab/written based) to respect both approaches, 'navigating parallel in a river'
• To raise awareness about past, present and future Indigenous Scientific efforts.
• To support Indigenous Science in a respectful way.

Galileo Galilei published Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems in 1632, a book that presented as a series of discussions among two philosophers and a layman in the topics of the previous system of knowledge (Ptolemy and Aristotle, traditional views) and the new way to see the solar system (Copernican position). The discussion is not narrowly limited to astronomical topics, but ranges over much of contemporary science. 

In this UCalgary "21^st century spinoff" event, the idea is to have an 'oral' conversation called Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Ways of Knowing, a respectful dialogue between Indigenous Knowledge Keeper and Physicists.

The goals of the activity are

• To honour the Indigenous Nations that lived and continue to live in the traditional land the university is built and surroundings
• To provide background information of Indigenous Science (land/oral based) and Non-Indigenous Science (lab/written based)
• To raise awareness to Indigenous Scientific efforts (see paper attached).
• To support Indigenous Science in a respectful way.

PHAS CHOICE was born in 2023 when 88 grade 6 girls came to work at our Physics Labs and the rest is history.

Launched in September 2024, CHOICE is the expansion of the program to other areas.

CHOICE is an annual conference that aims to remove barriers from well deserving under represented minorities to access higher education in a field they most like. The conference consists on:

PHAS CHOICE: grade 6 participants that identify as women or gender minorities to explore the fields of Physics and Astronomy

EDU CHOICE: grade 6 participants that identify as men or gender minorities to explore the field of Education

PHAS CHOICE Indigenous: grade 6 participants that identify as Indigenous students to explore the fields of Physics and Astronomy

CHOICE Indigenous Ways of Knowing: grade 6 participants to explore the Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being, Doing and Connecting

CHOICE EXPO: grade 6 participants to explore different scientific fields 

CHOICE Mad Scientist Big Show: participants get a big show of how fun is to be a scientist. From big liquid nitrogen clouds to electricity, this shows promise to raise your hair in delight, literally!

CHOICE Campus Tours and Scavenger Hunt: participants get to know what UCalgary experience is all about! Discover the landmarks that you did not know our university had!

https://science.ucalgary.ca/connections/outreach/choice-programs