Polygon Created with Sketch. Home | Research

Incorporating Indigenous Cultures and Realities in STEM

When educators use a culturally responsive curriculum—one that bridges Indigenous ways of knowing with Western science—Indigenous students are more engaged and perform better.

In recent years, many organizations across Canada have established programs to help Indigenous learners get ahead in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. However, the effectiveness of these new initiatives is not well understood. 

The inventory in Incorporating Indigenous Cultures and Realities in STEM lists more than a 100 different programs in Canada that specifically aim to help Indigenous learners succeed in STEM. These programs can be sorted into eight broad strategies for increasing Indigenous representation in STEM. Each strategy falls into one of three periods in the learner’s life course. Within each strategy, there are initiatives that attempt to address cultural difference.

The primer contains links to examples of every type of program.

Child playing with molecule

Related Content

Mechanic maintenance
Research

Amped Up: Upskilling Canada’s Heavy Duty Vehicle Mechanics to Support the Transition to Electric School Buses

This project examined how heavy-duty diesel mechanics can be effectively upskilled to support the transition to electric school buses.
A woman smiles brightly in this waist-up shot taken in a sunny setting.
Research

Retention in Healthcare: Migration Costs and Systems Perspectives

We undertook an examination of the cost of turnover and out-migration among Canadian healthcare workers, as well as how regulatory bodies and training organizations monitor and respond to workforce exits.
Research

Evaluating Opportunities and Challenges with Digital Twin Technology Adoption

This research from the University of Victoria examined the opportunities and challenges of digital twin adoption in key sectors in British Columbia. It used a mixed-methods approach, including semi-structured interviews with industry representatives and a survey of 143 professionals.
View all Research