2023:Program/Submissions/What is the language of science ? An in-depth discussion of language power dynamics in STEM - E7ZTL7

The following is a mirror of what are publicly available details of submission made at the call for proposal platform, Pretalx. Any changes here may be overwritten by a bot while syncing updates from Pretalx ([1]). Changes are monitored and may be updated into Pretalx if they do not change the context of the submission (i.e. correcting typographical errors).

Title: What is the language of science ? An in-depth discussion of language power dynamics in STEM

Speakers:

Damaxa

Pretalx link

Etherpad link

Room:

Start time:

End time:

Type: Roundtable / open discussion

Track: Education

Submission state: submitted

Duration: 75 minutes

Do not record: false

Presentation language: en

Abstract & description

Abstract

This presentation will be a 60-90 minute lecture given with the goal of highlighting the intersection between educational equity and linguistic accommodation. The majority of the discussion will center on science pedagogy and the Haitian diaspora, however we leave the door open to a more general discussion of languages which lack “official” status but are nonetheless the primary means of engaging with a given community.

Description

The decolonization of information is crucial for communities to have access to knowledge in their own language, and nowhere is this more apparent than in STEM fields. For Haitians, having access to peer-reviewed literature in Haitian Creole is essential to bridge the gap between language and education. The majority of Haitians speak Haitian Creole, with only a maximum estimated 7% being fluent in French. Yet French and English remain the languages of academia in Haiti, with French historically being the only language of instruction within Haitian public and private schools, leaving many without the tools to navigate scholarly works. This language barrier not only perpetuates the exclusion of Haitians from the academic world but also limits the development of the country of Haiti as a whole. By providing access to peer-reviewed literature in Haitian Creole, Haitians can be empowered to contribute to and advance their fields, breaking down linguistic and educational barriers. Specifically, this discussion will emphasize the importance of the ability to read scientific literature in one's native language, and by exploring these themes, it aims to raise awareness about the importance of linguistic equity in knowledge dissemination, explore the crucial relationship between information and its linguistic communication, promote the benefits of expanding lexicons within languages while encouraging outreach in technical fields, and illustrate the part that Wikipedia can play in such a process.

Further details

Qn. How does your session relate to the event themes: Diversity, Collaboration Future?

This discussion is all about examining inherent biases created not through malicious intent, but through casual unawareness of how language shapes our world and who gets to participate in it. We intend to analyze the question of how(if at all) linguistically isolated regions can benefit from advancing technologies under current conditions

Qn. What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Everyone can participate in this session

Qn. What is the most appropriate format for this session?

• Onsite in Singapore
• Remote online participation, livestreamed
• Remote from a satellite event
• Hybrid with some participants in Singapore and others dialing in remotely
• Pre-recorded and available on demand