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Chantal Barriault

Chantal Barriault

Associate Professor, School of Natural Sciences
School of Natural Sciences
Science, Engineering and Architecture
705.675.1151 ext 4139 cbarriault@laurentian.ca

Biography

Chantal Barriault is the Director of the Science Communication Graduate Program, offered jointly by Science North and Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. Starting out on the exhibit floors of Science North, she spent most of her early career developping and delivering education programmes, teaching training, live science theatre, and science exhibits. Chantal also developped and led Science North's visitor studies, exhibit and program evaluations, and learning impact research. Her research interests focus on understanding and assessing the impact of science communication strategies through the application of learning theories in informal learning environments. Most recently, her PhD research investigated the learning experience of visitors to zoos and aquaria to determine the impact of live animal exhibits on visitor learning. Chantal joined the faculty team at Laurentian University in 2013.  

Education

B.A. (Hons) Psychology (1992) - Western University, London, ON

M. Sc. Science Communication (1998) - University of South Wales (formerly Glamorgan), Cardiff, UK. Thesis: "The Science Centre Learning Experience: A Visitor-Based Framework"

Ph.D. Science Education (2015) - Curtin University, Perth, AU. Thesis: "Visitor Engagement and Learning Behaviour in Science Centres, Zoos and Aquaria"  

Academic Appointments

Master Lecturer, Director of the Master's and Graduate Diploma in Science Communication , School of Biology, Chemistry and Forensics Sciences,  Laurentian University

On The Web

www.sciencecommunication.ca

https://www.facebook.com/ScienceCommunicationSudbury/

https://twitter.com/Science_Comm

Download vCard cbarriault@laurentian.ca 705.675.1151 ext 4139 @Science_Comm Chantal Barriault

Research

 Chantal's research interests focus on understanding and assessing the impact of science communication strategies through the application of learning theories and cognitive science. Most recently, her PhD research investigated the learning experience of visitors to zoos and aquaria to determine the impact of live animal exhibits on visitor learning. 

Awards

2017 Top 10 Research and Innovation Achievements Award, Laurentian University

2014-15 Nominated for Student Choice Teaching Award, Laurentian University

2006 Emerging Leaders Award, Northern Ontario Business 

2006 Outstanding Achievement Award, Canadian Association of Science Centres

Teaching

SCOM 5026 Learning Theories and Practice

SCOM 5066 Science Communication Practice I: Orientation

SCOM 5116  Research Methods in Science Communication

SCOM 5146  Science Communication Practice II: Professional Experience

SCOM 5125  Major Research Paper in Science Communication

Publications

Barriault, C. (1999). The science centre learning experience: A visitor-based framework Informal Learning Review (Vol. 35, pp. 14-16)

Barriault, C., & Pearson, D. (2010). Assessing exhibits for learning in science centres: A practical tool. Visitor Studies, 13(1), 90-106

Barriault, C., Pisani, K., & Henson, A. (2011). The Wildlife Rescue Traveling Exhibit: An Evaluation of the Visitor Learning Experience.   Retrieved July 6, 2014, 2014, from http://sciencenorth.ca/internationalsales/index.aspx?id=3923

Barriault, C. (March 2014). Assessing Visitor Learning in Zoos and Aquaria: A Revised Framework., National Association of Research in Science Teaching Annual Conference, Conference Proceedings. Pittsburgh, PA: NARST

Chantal L. Barriault & Léonie Rennie (2019) The Development of a Standardized Assessment Framework for Animal Exhibits, Visitor

Studies, 22:1, 21-42, DOI: 10.1080/10645578.2019.1603737

 

Spoel, P. and Barriault, C. (2011) “Risk Knowledge and Risk Communication: The Rhetorical Challenge of Public Dialogue.” In. D. Starke-Meyerring, A. Paré, N. Artemeva, M. Horne, and L. Yousoubova (Eds.), Writing (in) the Knowledge Society. (pp. 87-112). West Lafayette, IN: Parlor Press and Fort Collins, Colorado: The WAC Clearinghouse.

 

Barriault, C. (2001). “The learning experience in the Nature Exchange”.  In S. Errington, S.M. Stocklmayer  & B. Honeyman (Eds.), Understanding museums to popularise science and technology (pp. 19-22). London, UK: Commonwealth Secretariat