EAR 2025 - Learning Science: One Misconception at a Time

Please note that this event is not run by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Toronto Centre. Please contact the organizers for more information.

How do people learn? And more specifically, how do people learn science?

The answers to these very important questions should guide us in our quest to find effective ways of teaching scientific content to students of different ages.

When it comes to teaching astronomy, we should also think about how astronomers interrogate the Universe and construct new knowledge – in other words, how do astronomers do astronomy?

In this talk, I will discuss the epistemology of science education, expose theories of conceptual change and present methods for teaching astronomy concepts from primary schools onwards to pre-service and in-service teachers.

Speaker Info: Pierre Chastenay holds a master’s degree in astrophysics from Université Laval, in Québec City, and a doctorate in science education from Université de Montréal.

Since 2013, he has been a full professor of science education at Université du Québec à Montréal, where his research focuses on science teaching, astronomy education, and primary teacher training.

His research has been published in Research in Science Education, the Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Physical Review Physics Education Research and Astronomy Education Journal, among others.

Before joining academia, he oversaw educational activities at the Planétarium de Montréal for 25 years.

Host of the popular science television programmes Les électrons libres and Le code Chastenay, he won the Prix Raymond-Charrette in 2014, awarded by the Conseil supérieur de la langue française for the quality of his media appearances.

In 2017, he won the Qilak Award from the Canadian Astronomical Society and the Sanford-Fleming Medal from the Royal Canadian Institute for Science for his outstanding contribution to the public’s understanding and appreciation of astronomy and science.

He became a member of the Order of Canada in 2024. 

Who can attend: Everyone

Fee: Free

Registration Link: E. A. Robinson Science Education Lecture

Location: Online, UTM Campus, CCT Building, Room CC2150, Parking in Lot P9

Organized by: University of Toronto