Sciographies is a radio show and podcast about the people who make science happen, brought to you by the College of Science and campus community radio station CKDU 88.1 FM. This is his third in a series of articles featuring excerpts from each new episode released this fall.
Melanie Zurba completed the majority of her education in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before enrolling in a semester abroad in Coffs Harbor, Australia. Her experience exposed her to different aspects of resource management and led her to discover a passion for community engagement and environmental governance.
Currently, Dr. Zurba is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Resources and Environment and the Faculty of Sustainability. Her research explores how to design research that best supports the aspirations of her partners in the community. Dr. Zurba also taps into her creative side to use art as an engagement tool. Her work bridges the gap between the natural sciences, social sciences, arts, and knowledge systems that deserve equity.
On this week’s episode of Sciographies, host David Barclay speaks with Dr. Zurba about harnessing the power of art to conduct ‘research about research’ and what collaborations between researchers and Indigenous partners look like. Let’s talk about what it will become.
Listen to a preview of Dr. Zurba’s episode
Sciographies Podcast · Preview – Melanie Zurba, Social Scientist
Below are excerpts from the episode, edited for clarity and length.
find a new path
Berkeley: How much did your experience as an urban Winnipegger contribute to the research you did, and how early did that research begin?
Zurba: It wasn’t until later in my undergrad that social justice really entered my orbit. I have long been loyal to the traditional conservation paradigm. That’s why I earned a degree in biology with a focus on wildlife conservation. However, when I went to Australia at the end of my degree, things changed quickly. [in a student exchange program].
Berkeley: So, you traveled to Australia while completing your degree…can you tell us a little more about your trip?
Zurba: It was a new experience. I had taken a course in marine management rather than marine biology, so I had a different perspective. I was learning about Indigenous perspectives, political issues, and social issues. That was an awakening for me. That’s what I really wanted to focus on.
Exploring the gray area
Berkeley: Do you consider yourself a scientist?
Zurba: That’s a very good question. I don’t like -ists and -isms. If I had to answer this in a job interview, I would say yes because I am a social science major. However, I feel that my approach to the question is not necessarily so. The same goes for art. I’m interested in making art, but I wouldn’t call myself an artist. Science is a discipline, it needs to be learned, and it’s all about verification and validity. I completely respect you. It’s one of the many hats I wear.But I won’t say [being a scientist] That is my only identity.
Berkeley: I don’t think it’s necessarily true that if you bring questions to people, science can get the answers.
Zurba: I don’t often look for answers in research, but I think it’s strange and maybe a little different. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to collaborate with people. Because they like it as a unique approach. It’s about further exploring or understanding the gray area that exists and bringing a little light into it. Sometimes I wonder if I’m missing out on a lot when I’m looking for answers.
Reconciliation efforts
Berkeley: One thing I find interesting is the timeline. I’m curious to know how the massive movement toward reconciliation has influenced the way you think about research.
Zurba: That’s a very good question.When I was doing my Ph.D. [at the University of Manitoba], a call to action was announced and there was a lot of momentum around it, especially since Winnipeg is home to the National Truth and Reconciliation Center (I’ve been working with some people there on an edited version). ). However, I always had a question in the back of my mind: “Is this enough?” Is this the right process? Is it enough to move it forward? Because reconciliation is an ongoing process, not something that stops. It’s something you have to work on and always try to consciously reflect on.
Berkeley: In this context, what role do you think natural science should play in reconciliation?
Zurba: Questions and future directions should come from the community, and people at the facility should be willing to help. It is also possible to do this collaboratively.Maybe there is a connection [with an Indigenous community] And we solve the questions together… I’m very interested in service research. We have all the great resources: students, funding, labs, infrastructure. If we can be in a position to help the community with that, I think research will move in the right direction.
Listen to the full episode of Sciographies today at 4:30 p.m. CKDU 88.1 FM Find us in Halifax or apple podcast, spotify, Google and other popular podcasting platforms. You can also listen to previous episodes of Sciographies on the same platform or at: soundcloud.ca/sciographies and dal.ca/sciographies.