Worlding Higher Education Differently: Co-creating a Technology-Art-Science Commons
Our tripartite ecosystem brings together transnational (local, national, international), transdisciplinary (technology, art, science), and transmedia (digital media platforms) efforts. Through this collaborative framework, we co-create activations among researchers and practitioners in higher education across Colombia, Egypt, and Canada. As visual arts and science educators, our project experiments with the intersections of art, science, and technology. We prioritize pedagogical activations locally and globally, focusing on a ‘glocal’ approach that emphasizes learning points relevant to the 21st century. These learning points—or impact literacies—equip students with essential skills, including: Transnational partnerships, collaborative teamwork, responsiveness and adaptability, and innovative thinking. By incorporating these skills into the project design, we provide students with leadership opportunities that might not have been available otherwise.
Undisciplined Conversations fosters transdisciplinary dialogue, inviting diverse scholars to co-create vibrant ecosystems of learning through informal discussions.

Undisciplined Conversations, a dynamic space for transdisciplinary dialogues across the arts, education, and beyond, will take place in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at The University of British Columbia. Join us for conversation and light refreshments as we host invited guests who foster diverse research perspectives and encourage co-creation beyond our immediate disciplines. The conversations are informal as we collaboratively create vibrant ecosystems of learning. Let us welcome a diverse community of scholars to enrich our educational discourses.

In January 2024, Marie-France Berard, Susana Vargas-Mejía, and Elham Pouryamehr, distinguished scholars, practitioners, and researchers, were invited as speakers. They shared their extensive research subjects and offered insights into understanding contemporary issues, inspiring meaningful conversations and making the January event a unique opportunity for intellectual exploration and cross-disciplinary dialogue.

Together, they initiated conversations about the multifaceted aspects of museum education, public awareness, and representation, providing a dynamic space to reassess and reimagine established concepts. Delving into various community and museum practices, the exploration extended beyond traditional boundaries, prompting a reconsideration of how learning is approached in contemporary contexts. By sharing different perspectives, this initiative aimed to encourage innovative thinking and push the boundaries of conventional wisdom.

In March 2024, we hosted Dr. Trish Osler, Dr. Peter Gouzouasis, and Dr. Liane Gabora: distinguished scholars, practitioners, and researchers as invited speakers. They shared their extensive research subjects, offering insights into contemporary issues and inspiring meaningful conversations, making this event a unique opportunity for intellectual exploration and cross-disciplinary dialogue. 

Together, we collaborated on conversations about creativity and explored various perspectives from different fields of study. The discussion focused on the intersection of art, neuroscience, psychology, music, and education, going beyond traditional boundaries. By engaging speakers with different perspectives, the initiative aimed to promote innovative thinking and challenge conventional wisdom. Ultimately, it sought to prompt a reconsideration of how we approach creativity in contemporary learning contexts.

Research

At The University of British Columbia, our research, led by Anita and Elly, fosters community strength, social cohesion, and transformative learning, reimagining education. Learn More