Art. Science. Research.
What are Photo-Research Exhibits?
All exhibits are developed to:
1) Celebrate under represented groups in science and trades
2) Weave personal narratives with evidence from research studies
3) Inspire discussion about equity, diversity & inclusion in science
1) Celebrate under represented groups in science and trades
2) Weave personal narratives with evidence from research studies
3) Inspire discussion about equity, diversity & inclusion in science
In collaboration with world-renowned photographer Hilary Gauld, Dr. Eden Hennessey works with communities that are marginalized or underrepresented in areas such as science, technology, engineering, math, and trades. Co-creating installations with those featured in the images, Eden weaves personal narratives with empirical literature and research evidence to re-imagine what inequities 'look like.' As a methodology, this innovative approach draws on participatory action and photo-voice research to create works of art, based in science and lived experiences.
To date, Eden has curated four photo-research exhibits that have been showcased around the globe in museums, galleries, schools, and community organizations. Each exhibit is carefully constructed to include images and research captions, often displayed using equipment and artifacts from relevant areas to elicit tactile interaction and embodied cognition. In doing so, exhibits are interactive, flexible, portable, and authentic.
To date, Eden has curated four photo-research exhibits that have been showcased around the globe in museums, galleries, schools, and community organizations. Each exhibit is carefully constructed to include images and research captions, often displayed using equipment and artifacts from relevant areas to elicit tactile interaction and embodied cognition. In doing so, exhibits are interactive, flexible, portable, and authentic.
What do people think?
Image featuring Dr. Imogen Coe from #DistractinglyHonest
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“It’s a great visual wake-up call, done respectfully, but not quietly either.” "It was empowering to be involved with this exhibit. I tell women in STEM to build their networks - find their supportive communities - and being involved in this exhibit made me feel more connected to my network of like-minded, supportive, women (and allies) in STEM. It was also a fun and very different kind of experience for me, as a long-time scientist - who rarely gets the opportunity to be involved in different approaches to telling our stories." |
Building Equitable Trades
Image features Beverly Roach, Machinist.
Her Full Self, Digital Portrait 2024 ©
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Data shows that less than 5% of those in papered skilled trades are women (Buildforce Canada, 2018). While it is problematic to see persistent gender imbalances in any field, the shortage of participation in the trades has particularly detrimental consequences. According to the Government of Canada, approximately 700,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire by 2028, leaving a massive shortage of skilled labourers. The full participation of all people in trades is therefore a matter of extreme importance to educational institutions, government, and society.
This photo-research exhibit is the first of its kind - that is, a unique collaboration between women and gender diverse people who are underrepresented across fields ranging from academic research, to arts, to the skilled trades. We collaborated to produce this interactive photo-research exhibit that explores identity, representation, and experiences of ex+inclusion in the skilled trades. |
#TurningTablesinSTEM: Featuring Girls and Women in Science at the Table
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This photo-research exhibit celebrates success in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) among girls and women spanning nine decades of experiences. Featured scientists represent fields like physics, biology, zoology, chemistry, and engineering. The images are linked with research from social psychology, education, sociology, and organizational psychology and related to each scientist and their science. Scientists are all photographed at the same table – representing that each person has unique skills and perspectives to contribute to the scientific conversation.
Together, these scientists bring decades of scientific experience to the table. They bring the perspectives of those not historically welcomed at the table. They call to action for greater inclusion to occur at the table. They are the turning tables in science where women have been traditionally excluded. The table itself is a work surface. It is a physical place, but also a place where academic, economic, political, and cultural decisions are made. As a metaphor for inclusion in science, this series presents girls and women in science at the table. When engaging with the images, we ask you to think about the various tables in your life. Who is included at each table? How does each table serve those who sit there? How can tables change, rearrange and be part of exchanges? What does it mean to turn tables in science? Check out the look book for more information about this exhibit. |
Image features Lisa Cole, Director, k2i (kindergarten to industry) academy at York University- Lassonde School of Engineering (#TurningTablesinSTEM)
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#DistractinglyHonest: Is Honesty the Best Policy?
Image features Dr. Amanda Desnoyers, Senior Behavioural Scientist at Impact Canada and her son Oliver (#DistractinglyHonest)
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For women in STEM (science, technology, engineering & math), being honest about life experiences and barriers comes with risks - from encountering biases to structural barriers related to organizational thriving.
A follow-up to the successful #DistractinglySexist exhibit, this extended collection presents challenges faced by women in STEM, ranging from systems that do not support parents to stereotypical beliefs about gender and vocation. Check out the look book for more information about this exhibit. |
#DistractinglySexist: Confronting Sexism in Canada's Tech Triangle
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This photo-research exhibit was created based on research about the consequences of standing up to bias in science. The exhibit features images and statements from women and girls in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo community - an area known as Canada's own Silicon Valley of the North or the Tech Triangle. Each image is paired with research from social-psychology, combining powerful imagery with data on gender inequities and the consequences of confronting gender discrimination in the sciences. Check out the look book for more information about this exhibit.
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Image features Dr. Anne Wilson, Professor of Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University
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